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=Cyrstic fibrosis= = = =what is it?= Cystic fibrosis is caused by a defective gene which causes the body to produce abnormally thick and sticky fluid, called mucus. This mucus builds up in the breathing passages of the lungs and in the pancreas, the organ that helps to break down and absorb food. This collection of sticky mucus results in life-threatening lung infections and serious digestion problems. The disease may also affect the sweat glands and a man's reproductive system. Millions of Americans carry the defective CF gene, but do not have any symptoms. That's because a person with CF must inherit two defective CF genes -- one from each parent. An estimated 1 in 29 Caucasian Americans have the CF gene. The disease is the most common, deadly, inherited disorder affecting Caucasians in the United States. It's more common among those of Northern or Central European descent. Most children with CF are diagnosed by age 2. A small number, however, are not diagnosed until age 18 or older. These patients usually have a milder form of the disease. It is found in chromosome number 7. 2 CF genes are needed for someone to get cystic fibrosis.

=symptomes=
 * Thick, viscous mucus secretions in the lungs
 * Repeated infections: The accumulation of sticky, thick mucus in the lungs creates a favorable environment for infectious micro organisms to inhabit and flourish.
 * stools,pale or clay colored, foul smelling, or stools that float
 * Chronic cough, possibly with blood streaking
 * Wheezing
 * bronchitis
 * chronic sinusitis
 * asthma
 * Nasal polyps (fleshy growths inside the nose)
 * Weight loss, failure to thrive in infants, abdominal swelling[[image:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/18135.jpg width="376" height="297"]]
 * Excessive salt in sweat, dehydration
 * Failure of newborn to pass stool
 * Abdominal pain, flatulence
 * Fatigue
 * Enlarged fingertips
 * Changes in color and amount of sputum (material coughed up from the lungs)

=life expectancy= There is no way to accurately predict how long a person with cystic fibrosis will live, as many different factors affect a person’s health. Severity of disease and time of diagnosis are two such factors. Many people have a mild case of CF, while others can have moderate or severe cases.

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