Disease of cystic fibrosis. What it is?

Cystic fibrosis is perhaps the most common disease on Earth, inherited. It was first described by the American pediatrician Dorothy Anderson in 1938. The official name is pancreatic fibrosis .

Cystic fibrosis: what is it?

Experts associate the disease with a mutation of the protein, which acts as a chloride channel and actively participates in the water-electrolyte balance of the cells of respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, genitourinary system and liver. With irreversible changes in protein, the detachable large number of glands of external secretion strongly thickens, its isolation is much more difficult, violations occur in internal organs. Cystic fibrosis often affects the bronchopulmonary system.

In the walls of the vessels there is a strong inflammation of various forms of severity, the connective skeleton is destroyed, and bronchiectasises quickly form. With a constant blockage of rather viscous sputum, bronchiectasis becomes more frequent, with time, hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension increase .

Cystic fibrosis: what is it and what are the symptoms?

It is worth noting that the symptomatology of the disease may not immediately manifest itself. Doctors often begin to treat common bronchitis, but in the end it turns out that this is not he, but cystic fibrosis. Help then turns out to be a completely different character. Suffering from this disease are peculiar:

• Significant lag in physical development;
• Chronic diseases of respiratory organs (including sinusitis and bronchitis);
• Polyps in the nose;
• Pancreatitis;
• Insufficiency of breathing.

Cystic fibrosis: what is it, and how is it diagnosed?

Of course, just to make a correct diagnosis without proper examination is simply not enough. It is better to approach the problem in a complex way. Analyzes that are prescribed by a doctor to detect cystic fibrosis:

• A sweat test;
• Concentration of chlorides;
• Chymotrypsin in the stool;
• Fatty acids in the stool;
• DNA diagnosis.

Cystic fibrosis: what is it and how is it treated?

At the moment, it is impossible to completely overcome this disease. But if the help is given to patients with cystic fibrosis on time, even with this diagnosis a person can live a long enough life.

All treatment of patients is a high-quality diet and physical activity. The diet is determined by the specialist individually. And then treatment of cystic fibrosis proceeds, proceeding from the symptoms. The main goal of doctors here is to prevent blockage of the lungs and avoid gastrointestinal obstruction. All patients are registered with the dispensary.

The main prescribed drugs: enzyme, antifungal and antibacterial agents. As a physiotherapy, a vibrating whole chest massage and special gymnastics are often prescribed.

Is there a chance?

According to some data, the average life expectancy of a patient in Russia is 15-18 years. In the US, for example, with a similar diagnosis, the patient lives on average to 28-42 years.

But medicine, as you know, is not worth it. Scientists around the world have been studying this disease carefully. As many of them believe, the patients born in 2000, modern medicine can fully guarantee for 45-55 years of full-fledged life.