Is there anybody who even knows what cistic fibrosis is?

Answer 1

At its simplest, cystic fibrosis (often abbreviated CF) is a genetic disease which is displayed when you have no working copies of a particular gene. Symptoms include thick mucus in the lungs, frequent chronic infections, infertility, and the disease is usually fatal as well.

Because you can have one CF gene and not show any symptoms at all, it can show up in children of Jewish and European ancestry apparently at random. Approximately 1 in 22 people in these groups has one damaged gene of this type. Like sickle-cell anemia, having one damaged gene actually confers a slight advantage to survival even though having two is lethal. In this case, it confers resistance to cholera.

Because all that's necessary to manifest CF is a damaged gene, as you might imagine there are any number of ways in which the gene might be damaged. In fact, there are more than a thousand (!) mutatations which can cause CF, though 70% of the cases worldwide share a gene broken in the exact same way. Because there is such a variability in the way in which the gene is broken, there is also a pretty substantial diffrence in the way the disease manifests itself. This variability also means that development of a genetic test is pretty much impossible, except for just the most common type of CF.

People who have cystic fibrosis can expect to have some trouble for much of their lives, but not usually so much as to preclude them from most of the activities that everyone else can engage in. Depending on the severity and specific manifestations, an individual may expire from complications some time after their 30's, though again it can vary widely. Many women with CF live long enough to get married and have children, who will then at least be carriers themselves.

The possibility does exist for gene therapy, by providing a working copy of the gene through the use of a modified retrovirus... but such treatments are still difficult and highly experimental. Someday, but probably not tomorrow.

One of my best friends has CF. It's a bummer, but she does okay, overall. I can only admire her spirit.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease, which means people inherit it from their parents through genes (or DNA).

Cystic Fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. A thick mucus clogs the lungs and blocks the ducts of the pancreas.

When mucus clogs the lungs, it can make breathing very difficult. The thick mucus also causes bacteria (or germs) to get stuck in the airways, which causes inflammation (or swelling) and infections that leads to lung damage.

Mucus also can block the digestive tract and pancreas. The mucus stops digestive enzymes from getting to the intestines. The body needs these enzymes to break down food, which provides important nutrients to help us grow and stay healthy. People with cystic fibrosis often need to replace these enzymes with capsules they take with their meals and snacks to help digest the food and get the proper nutrition.

Common Symptoms are;

* Very salty-tasting skin.
* A large appetite, but poor weight gain.
* Greasy, bulky bowel movements.
* Constant coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath.
* Many lung infections, like pneumonia and bronchitis.
* Small, fleshy growths in the nose called nasal polyps.

Answer 3

Cystic fibrosis or mucovisidosis is a hereditary disease involving pancreas, lungs and sweat glands. Diagnosis is by a sweat test, the perspiration containing excess salt. The pancreas involvement causes feeding problems and the thick mucous cause lung problems. Patients seldom live to adulthood.

Answer 4

It's a hereditary disease. Something about not being able to break down mucus; we learned it in school as an example about how dominant and recessive genes work.

Answer 5

Yes I have cf ! www.cftrust.org.uk or www.cysticfibrosis.com

Cf AINT a horriffic Disease ...... whoever wrote that is a FOOL trin to get best answer ! anyway if you leave your email adress i will add u!
Also i have a 26 yr old sister with it and a brother who is 11

Obviouslly you know what cf is so i wont explain!

Answer 6

Yes. I have an 18 year old niece who has CF. She is currently going to LSU. She has stayed active all her life. Her parents have taken very good care of her physically and emotionally.

Answer 7

I do, unfortunately. It is a horrific disease. I encourage everyone to learn a little about it @

http://www.cff.org/

By the way, it's "Cystic"

Answer 8

http://www.cff.org/

Check this out.