What is cystic fibrosis?

The word cystic emanates from cyst that is a growth of tiny pockets of fluid or semi-solid matter which are found in the body or beneath the skin. On the other hand fibrosis connotes the thickening and scarring of connective tissue in the body. This normally occurs after an injury.

The term cystic fibrosis was first used in 1938 to describe certain disorders in the pancreas. Scientists back then believed that those disorders in the pancreas were actually cysts. However, they were later found out to be otherwise as they caused the pancreas to shrink.

Usually most cysts do not pose any problems to the health of the person who has them. Yet, in some cases they could be harmful examples are keratocyst and demoid cyst.

Medical science suggests three reasons for the causes of cystic fibrosis in people. The first is that it is hereditary; secondly, it is caused by the inadequate absorption of selenium, zinc, essential fatty acids and other minerals such as trace minerals. The final reason is the lack of selenium in the body.

The latter was discovered by a veterinarian in 1978 when he diagnosed cystic fibrosis in the pancreas and liver of baby monkeys. He added enough selenium as well as relevant fatty acid nutrition to their diet which solved the problem. He claimed that he could do the same to humans in preventing the disease.

Cystic fibrosis affects both males and females regardless of their ages. It normally attacks one at birth yet may remain unknown if diagnosed wrongly.

It could result in death if not diagnosed and treated early. The lungs of a patient fill with thick mucus thus blocking the passage of the lungs. This promotes difficulty in breathing, excessive coughing, and lung infections which are caused by bacteria. Some of these bacteria are pseudomas aeruginosa, burkholderia cepacia, aspergillus and MRSA.

Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) is bacteria that exist naturally in damp earth as well as in plants that are rotting. An example of such plants is onions. Research has revealed that certain traits of the bacteria that exist in plants also exist in persons with cystic fibrosis. These are burkholderia cenocepacia (B. cenocepacia) and burkholderia multivorans. This shows that persons with cystic fibrosis must not dwell in areas which are constantly damp. B. cepacia induces fever, congestion, short breaths and cough.

Pseudomas aeruginosa is bacteria that typically affect people who are ill. It takes advantage of the ailment to attack the body thus causing an infection. In cystic fibrosis patients    the bacteria makes home in the mucus leading to respiratory failure. Its symptoms are coughing, less appetite, enlargement of the abdomen and fast breaths.

Aspergillus is a fungus that develops on decomposing plants. It delivers reproductive cells known as spores into the environment. It is less harmful to healthy people but dangerous for sick ones.

MRSA is bacteria found on the skin and in the nose. It could cause tissue damage and death if not checked.