Philadelphia Cystic Fibrosis Attorneys

A disease that is inherited, cystic fibrosis (CF) causes thick mucus to accumulate in a person's lungs and digestive tract. CF is one of the most common chronic lung diseases, and affects approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. About 70,000 people worldwide have CF.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), few children born with CF in the 1950s lived to attend elementary school. Now, research and medical treatment advances have extended the life expectancy of those affected by CF, with many people with the disease living into their 40s and later.

Causes of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is the result of a defective gene that causes a person's body to create abnormally sticky and thick mucus, according to PubMed Health from the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. The fluid accumulates in the lungs' breathing passages as well as in the pancreas, which is the organ that aids in breaking down and absorbing food. The disease may cause an affected person to suffer lung infections that can be life-threatening, in addition to severe digestion problems. It may also affect a person's sweat glands and the reproductive systems in men.

In most cases of CF, a child is diagnosed with the disease by the time they are 2-years-old. However, a small number of people are not diagnosed until much later, after they are 18-years-old. These people have a much more mild form of CF. Every year, an estimated 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed.

Millions of people carry the gene for cystic fibrosis but do not show or suffer from any symptoms of the disease, since a person that has CF must inherit two defective CF genes (one from each parent) in order to have it. The disease mostly affects Caucasians, particularly those of Central or Northern European lineage. It is estimated that approximately one in 29 Caucasians in the U.S. carry the gene for CF.

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

Since there are over 1,000 mutations of the gene for cystic fibrosis, from person to person, the symptoms may differ. Below are some common symptoms of CF:

• Coughing
• Delayed growth
• Failure to gain weight normally, in addition to weight loss
• Increased mucus in the lungs and/or sinuses
• Nasal congestion
• Clay-colored or pale stools, may also have mucus
• Recurring pneumonia
• Severe constipation
• Shortness of breath
• Skin that tastes salty
• Swollen belly (distended)

Testing for Cystic Fibrosis

It is crucial for an infant whose parents suspect they may have cystic fibrosis to be diagnosed early. If it is determined a baby has CF, treatment, follow-up, and close monitoring can help ensure survival as well as a high quality of life. Newborns that are screened for CF that receive an early diagnosis and treatment can have improved growth, added years to life, and may also reduce hospital stays by helping keep lungs healthy.

There are several important tests an appropriate healthcare professional can conduct to determine whether a baby is affected by cystic fibrosis, including:

• Blood test
• Immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) test
• Sweat test

Other tests may also be utilized to help identify problems that relate to CF, including lung function tests, CT scans, chest X-rays, pancreatic function measurements, fecal fat test, upper GI and small bowel series tests, Secretin stimulation test, and more.

If you believe your healthcare provider failed to properly screen for cystic fibrosis in your newborn child, contact Anapol Schwartz. Our Philadelphia failure to diagnosis attorneys can help your family determine whether a healthcare professional's negligence caused your child to suffer unnecessarily due to a delay in diagnosis or treatment. To learn how we can help your family, call 866-735-2792 today.

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