cystic firbosis?


Question:
what is cystic fibrosis

Answers:
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common genetic disease which affects the entire body, causing progressive disability and early death. Shortness of breath is the most common symptom and results from frequent lung infections like pneumonia that are treated, though not always cured, by antibiotics and other medications. A multitude of other symptoms, including sinus infections, failure to thrive, diarrhea, and infertility, result from the effects of CF on other parts of the body.

CF is one of the most common fatal inherited diseases. It is most prevalent among Caucasians and Ashkenazi Jews; one in 25 people of European descent carry one gene for CF. Individuals with cystic fibrosis can be diagnosed prior to birth by genetic testing or in early childhood by a sweat test. Ultimately, lung transplantation is often necessary as CF worsens.

CF is caused by a mutation in a gene called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). This gene helps create sweat, digestion juices, and mucus. Although most people without CF have two working copies of the CFTR gene, only one is needed to prevent cystic fibrosis. CF develops when neither gene works normally. Therefore, CF is considered an autosomal recessive disease. The name cystic fibrosis refers to the characteristic scarring (fibrosis) and cyst formation within the pancreas, first recognized in the 1930s.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common hereditary disease that affects the entire body, causing progressive disability and early death. Difficulty breathing is the most common symptom and results from frequent lung infections, which are treated, though not always cured, by antibiotics and other medications. A multitude of other symptoms, including sinus infections, poor growth, diarrhea and infertility, result from the effects of CF on other parts of the body.


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