Cystic Fibrosis Essays -- essays research papers fc

Cystic Fibrosis is a severe hereditary disease that infects the lungs, digestive system, sweat glands and male fertility. The name Cystic Fibrosis derives from the Fibrous scar tissue that develops in the pancreas. First recognized in 1938, cystic fibrosis is generalized as an autosomal recessive disorder of the exocrine glands. About one in every 2500 Caucasians is affected, and one in 25 is a carrier of the cystic fibrosis gene. Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal hereditary disorder of Caucasians in the United States and is the most common cause of chronic lung disease in children and young adults. Approximately 38,000 children and young adults in the United States today. About 3,000 babies are born with cystic fibrosis every year. Several decades ago many children with cystic fibrosis died by the age of 2. Today, about half of the people with cystic fibrosis live past the age of 31. That number is expected to grow with the continuing success of modern treatment.