Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease affecting millions of people from around the world. The majority of affected individuals are diagnosed with CF before they reach one year. When a baby is diagnosed, a team of health professionals will devise a treatment protocol based on the baby's specific health issues. Therapy is different for everyone, but it generally involves a mix of drugs and household treatment.
Addressing Cystic Fibrosis at Home
Home therapy involves eliminating mucous secretion, consuming healthy foods, and working out to help protect against infections and complications. It may be difficult to comply with a treatment program. However, doing so can help the baby live a longer, more productive life.
The most helpful treatment available is typically found at CF specialty clinics. These clinics handle the medical, nutritional, and psychological necessities of individuals who are known to have CF. There are more than one hundred of these particular clinics in the U.S. One may find them by getting hold of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation provides patients and consumers with other information on cystic fibrosis as well.
Numerous individuals with CF and their friends and families require psychological support to help them live with this life-shortening genetic defect. Support agencies, therapy, and education about the illness could be very helpful.
Initial Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis
Normally, CF creates problems with both the respiratory and gastrointestinal system, though occasionally it brings about issues only in one or the other. Additional areas of the body could also be affected. Testing procedures like stool analyses, sputum sample, or lung function screens could help the physician know how severe the disease is and how it is impacting the baby's body.
The physician may ask an individual about their child's immunizations, and order any necessary injections. Babies with CF need to have all the recommended injections in addition to pneumococcal and influenza shots.
The physician will make try to ensure that the baby is eating normally and is gaining weight and developing at an expected rate. He may record the baby's height, weight, and head size to keep track of how the baby is growing over time.
More from this Author:
The Early Stages of Colon Cancer
Cruise Ships and the Norovirus
References:
Dovey ME (2006). "Cystic fibrosis." In FD Burg et al. "Current Pediatric Therapy."(18th) 457–461. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.
Staton GW Jr, Ingram RH Jr (2004). "Chronic obstructive diseases of the lung." In: DC Dale, DD Federman. "Scientific American Medicine." (3) 14; 3. New York: Scientific American.
 |
