Understanding Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder which affects many organs in the body, predominantly the lungs, pancreas and sweat glands. It occurs due to a malfunction in the exocrine system that’s responsible for producing saliva, sweat, tears and mucus. Although there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis, there are current treatments to decrease the severity of the symptoms. 

  • In most Australian states, newborn babies are tested for Cystic Fibrosis within the first few days of birth by a heel prick test. 

  • In Australia, one in 2,500 babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis. 

  • Cystic Fibrosis is autosomal recessive meaning that it occurs equally in males and females.  

  • The Cystic Fibrosis gene must be inherited from both parents and it can skip generations. 

People with Cystic Fibrosis develop an excessive amount of overly thick, sticky mucus within the airways, lungs, and the digestive system. This excess mucus impairs the digestive functions of the pancreas resulting in bacteria getting trapped in the lungs causing infections and irreversible damage. 

 

References:
Cystic Fybrosis Australia

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