Q:
How is cystic fibrosis diagnosed?
A:
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that can cause damage to respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems. If you get cystic fibrosis, your mucus in the body will become thick and sticky. You may have breathing problems and lung disease. Some people may also have nutrition, digestion, and development problems.
There is no cure for cystic fibrosis at present, but treatment can help ease symptoms reduce the risk of exacerbations. If cystic fibrosis can be diagnosed earlier, care and treatment will begin in early stage. So, that make it possible for cystic fibrosis patients to live longer.
For newborn babies, a screening is the common way used to diagnose cystic fibrosis:
- Newborn Screening.
Newborn babies will have a routine screening for cystic fibrosis in all states in the US. A blood sample will be taken from babies to check the levels of immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT).
For older children and adults, there are two main ways used to diagnose cystic fibrosis:
- A sweat test.
A sweat test can measure the amount of chloride in sweat, and determine cystic fibrosis is negative, borderline, or positive.
- A genetic test.
A genetic test can detect chromosomal mutations associated with cystic fibrosis. You will know whether you have cystic fibrosis, or whether you are a cystic fibrosis carrier through this test.
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