Research shows that around 30, 000 Americans have Cystic Fibrosis with over 1000 new cases diagnosed every year. Analysts suggest that it occurs evenly to both the females and males and affects generally every race. This condition is more common among the white babies. One in every 3,200 live white births in comparison to one in every 3,900 live births amongst all Americans appear to be suffering from the condition. At the age of three, most patients are diagnosed and only ten percent of the most recent cases are usually by age eighteen and above (Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2014).
Cystic Fibrosis is a hereditary, lifelong disease that causes sticky, thick mucus to shape in the pancreases, lungs and other body organs. This mucus actually tends to block the airways in the lungs, leading to lung damage and breathing difficulties. The condition obstructs the main pathways that lead to the intestine in the pancreas causing a major disrupt in the digestive processes that facilitate the absorption and breakdown of food. Hence, Cystic Fibrosis is a condition that affects digestion and breathing and caused by very thick mucus that builds in the body (American Lung Association, 2014).
Consequently, research has shown that any child with Cystic Fibrosis must have inherited two of the defective gene copies, one from either parent. Hence, children who inherit a single gene from one of the parents and another normal gene from the other parent are Cystic Fibrosis carriers. These children are often considered the lucky lot as they live a normal life without specific signs of the condition showing up. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the carriers do pass unfortunately the defective Cystic Fibrosis gene to their children.
Cystic Fibrosis as a condition affects both the females and males from all ethnic and racial groups globally. The disease is more common among the individuals of Central and Northern European descent according to the National Institutes of Health. By the age of two about seventy percent of the children with the Cystic Fibrosis are diagnosed according the research conducted by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This foundation has gone ahead to report that about forty-five percent of the population affected by Cystic Fibrosis are eighteen years and above.
According to the degree of mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, the types of complications experienced by children with Cystic Fibrosis always differ. Research has shown that typically, critically ill patients suffering from this condition experience an acute respiratory failure due to acute pneumonia. Again, patients with this condition and have a significant deficiency in anemia, automatically have anemia due to unceasing hemoptysis. Moreover, patients may suffer from gastrointestinal system disorders, endocrine problems, reproductive system problems and sweat glands infection (Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2014).
The average age at diagnosis is always between six to eight months; nevertheless, age is very significant during diagnosis. Clinical symptoms always vary with the age of the patient in appearance. Some of the clinical signs may include; growth delays, abdominal distention, obstruction of the intestine, frequent abdominal pain, chest pain, recurrent pneumonia and wheezing, cough and jaundice in children (Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2014).
The main objective of conducting specific prognosis for patients suffering from the Cystic Fibrosis is to maintain their lung functioning to normal as possible, by effectively preventing any respiratory infection. Again, it is important to administer nutritional therapy to manage complications and maintain adequate growth (American Lung Association, 2014). Hence, the treatment of this condition may include; administering antibiotics and enzymes, early childhood immunizations, oxygen therapy, utilization of insulin shots and other medication.
Works cited:
American Lung Association. (2014). Cystic Fibrosis. 55 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago. < http://action.lung.org/site/Search?query=Cystic+Fibrosis+&x=0&y=0>
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. (2014). Cystic Fibrosis. One Children’s Hospital Drive. 4401 Avenue, Pittsburgh. < http://www.chp.edu/CHP/cystic+fibrosis>
