Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary illness. In order to find out if you or your husband is a carrier of the defective gene that causes it, you should undergo a blood test. The study of the chromosomes will determine if the gene is present or not.  

What is cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is an illness that affects the lungs and the digestive system. This illness is caused by a defective gene that causes the body to secrete a dense and sticky mucous. In the United States, there are at least 30.000 children and adults that suffer from this illness and 1 out of every 11.500 Hispanic children are born with this illness.  

This mucous obstructs the lungs and causes numerous and severe respiratory illnesses. Besides, the mucous also obstructs the pancreas and doesn’t allow the body to process food in a normal way.  

Cystic fibrosis does not have a cure and some years ago, it was very difficult for children to survive it. However, current treatments not only enable sufferers to survive it, but to have an almost normal quality of life.  

How to know if your baby has cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is hereditary, and for the baby to inherit it, both the mother and the father must have this defective gene. In order to know if you or your husband could be carriers of cystic fibrosis, you must undergo a chromosomal study. To know whether your baby has it or not during pregnancy, it is necessary to study the baby’s chromosomes by means of a test such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. 

When the baby is born, this illness is usually detected in the first few days or before the baby turns two. If the pediatrician detects certain symptoms she will probably request a sweat test or a genetic test to confirm the illness.  

Some of the symptoms of cystic fibrosis are:

• Constant coughing and phlegm

• Very frequent pneumonia and bronchitis

• Shortness of breath

• Very salty skin

• Not gaining weight despite eating a healthy amount

Treatment of cystic fibrosis

Although there is currently no known cure, thanks to current treatments, it is possible to survive many more years than before, and with a nearly normal quality of life. The symptoms are treated with drugs that reduce the density of the mucous, antibiotics to fight infections and bronchial dilators that make breathing easier despite the excessive phlegm.  

You may obtain more information about this illness in non-profit organizations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or in the encyclopedia of the National Library of Medicine.