posted by Admin on Mar 4
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by poor weight gain and growth (even with a normal appetite), excessive production of mucous, salty tasting skin, frequent chest infections and shortness of breath. Males can also exhibit infertility due to an associated congenital disorder. The symptoms of this disease usually appear in childhood or infancy; however, detection can be made in newborns. As the child develops, there will be physical therapy needed to release excess mucous that is stuck inside the lungs. This occurs because the patient will have a mutated protein that causes the production of mucous instead of the normal resin production needed to keep the alveoli in the lungs from collapsing.
One of the predominant symptoms of CF is poor growth with less gain in height and weight when compared to their peers. In many patients, the diagnosis of CF is not made until there is an investigation initiated, due to a slow growth rate. The slow growth rate has multiple causes which include poor nutrient absorption through the gastrointestinal tract, chronic lung infections and stress on the metabolic system caused by chronic illness.
The CF patient will experience clogged airways which will evolve into lung disease through mucous build-up and the resulting lung inflammation. Lung infection and inflammation will eventually cause damage and structural changes to the lungs which will lead to many negative symptoms. In its earlier stages, there may be fatigue, coughing and excessive phlegm production. Bacteria that inhabit the mucous of an unaffected person will grow out of control and produce pneumonia in a person with CF. In its later stages, breathing is greatly affected and the patient may experience coughing up blood, high blood pressure in the lungs and respiratory failure required a breathing mask to facilitate oxygen flow. In addition to bacterial infections of the lungs, CF patients can also develop other forms of lung disease such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This disease causes breathing difficulties relating to exposure to a common fungus.
Mucous that is found in the sinuses can also thicken and cause facial discomfort, drainage, headaches and fever. Nasal polyps can also form, as a result of thickening mucous, which may cause breathing difficulties.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.
For further information regarding Social Security claims involving cystic fibrosis, you may wish to talk to Houston SSD attorney Gerard Lynch, assisting clients throughout, Texas.