Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive tract. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, lung infections, and problems digesting food. It is caused by a mutation in the CFTR gene and is usually inherited from both parents who are carriers of the mutated gene. While there is no cure, treatments focus on clearing mucus from the lungs, treating infections with antibiotics, and maintaining good nutrition to control symptoms and prolong life. Advances in treatment have increased the median predicted survival age to the mid-30s.

1. Facts about CF Genetic Disorder
 Genetic disorder, people Brochure
are born with cystic fi-
brosis
Cystic Fibrosis
 Life expectancy is
based on how long and
severe the disease is for By: Nic Vreede
each individual
 “In 2009, the median
predicted age of surviv-
al was in the mid Symptoms
30’s” (cff.org 4).
 The median age keeps
going up with new There are many symptoms but here
treatments being found some of the most common and serious:
all the time.
 People can live a nor-  Sticky mucus builds up in the lungs
mal life as long as they
which makes it difficult to breath.
eat good food, take their
medication and follow  Mucus can also build up in the pancreas.
the doctors orders care- When this happens the body has a hard
fully. time digesting things and the pancreas
cannot regulate the body’s blood sugar.
 Salty tasting skin
 Poor health and growth despite a normal
food intake,
 Coughing, wheezing and shortness of
breath.
 Lung infections

2. Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis is a very Treatments
deadly disease which will Causes and Inheritance
Cystic Fibrosis has no official
shorten the lives of over The only way of getting
cure, but there are some treat-
30,000 Americans. The pro- this disease is from both
ments to help slow down the
cess begins when part of the parents having the
attack of this disease. The
tRNA strand is deleted and it heterozygous recessive
goals of these treatments is to
causes the ribosome to mis- gene. The likely hood of
prevent and control lung infec-
read the strand and create the inheriting Cystic Fibrosis is
tions.
wrong protein; which is una- about 25%. Both parents
ble to break down the mucus. Current treatments
can be heterozygous
Mucus builds up and travels  Airway Clearance Tech- recessive and not be
throughout the body, settling niques (ACT). In this pro- symptomatic of the disease.
in places such as the lungs cess the people have to sit The recessive pedigree
and the pancreas. This dis- or stand and have their back chart details the possibility
ease usually affects the Cau- pounded to release the mu- of a parent passing the
casian population but it can cus. Cystic Fibrosis gene to
happen to any ethnicity. This  Inhaled Medications. The their children.
devastating disease causes a patient would use an inhaler
person to have trouble breath- or a breathing machine.
ing and difficulty digesting  Antibiotics. Antibiotics are
food. used to fight infections.
 Good nutrition. Scientists
found that as long as the
person maintains a healthy
weight, eating fruits and
vegetables can help control
Cystic Fibrosis.