What Do You Know About Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that mostly affects the
respiratory and digestive systems. About 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S.
have
CF. Most of them are descendants of people from northern Europe. Find out more about
CF by
taking this quiz.
4. How is the digestive system affected by extra mucus in
CF?
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The correct answer is
The pancreas helps in digestion by making enzymes and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach
acid. If the pancreas ducts are blocked by mucus, digestion is affected. Bowel movements
become bulky and foul-smelling. Malnutrition and slowed growth and development can
also occur. If the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are damaged, the person
can develop type 1 diabetes. If the bile ducts in the liver are affected, biliary
cirrhosis may result. Other symptoms and problems linked with CF include sinusitis,
nasal polyps, clubbing of fingers and toes, rupture of lung tissue, abdominal pain,
gassiness, gallstones, coughing blood, enlargement of the right side of the heart,
and infertility.
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