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What is Muco (Cystic Fibrosis)?
In Anglo-Saxon countries the disease is known as 'Cystic Fibrosis' or CF, in other countries it is known as 'mucoviscidose' or 'muco'.
Cystic Fibrosis is a hereditary disease that is caused by a defective gene.
It is the most widespread hereditary disease in Belgium; it tackles most frequently the respiratory- or the digestive system. In most cases the disease is a combination of the two symptoms.
Cystic Fibrosis prevents the normal functioning of the exocrine glands; they start to produce sticky and thick mucus.
We produce all mucus; this viscous liquid carpets internal walls of some canals, in the case of a cystic fibrosis patient produces a mucus that is too dense and too viscous.
The symptoms.
A rapid breathing, a chronic cough, a constant expectoration, difficulties of transit, digestion, an excessive paleness, an abnormally salty sweat, a slow growth and an often-insufficient food absorption are typical symptoms.
During the adolescence intestinal occlusion problems as well as the diabetes can appear.
How does the disease spread?
The disease is due to a degeneration of the seventh chromosome; it is transmitted on a recessive manner.
It means that the disease appears only when the two parents are carriers of the same deficient chromosome and when this deficient gene is transmitted to their child.
Parents are healthy porters.
in 25% of cases they give birth to a healthy child,
in 50% of the cases the child is healthy but porter of the deficient chromosome
and in 25% of the cases the child bears the disease by the birth.
Is cystic fibrosis contagious?
NO, it is a genetic disease.
In no case you should, as parent be worried if your child plays with a little friend who
suffers from cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis and figures.
Cystic Fibrosis is the most spread hereditary disease in Belgium.
The life expectation is approximately 30 years.
One person on twenty-five is carrier the deficient gene.
In Belgium 25.000 children, adolescents and young adults carry the disease.
The disease can be tracked from the 10th week of pregnancy.
A patient must pay about 150USD to 1.000 USD extra medical care costs per month.
When a patient reaches the age of 20 he spend almost three years of his life in treatment.