Cystic Fibrosis: A Cure or A Treatment?

Cystic Fibrosis: A Cure or a Treatment?

The biggest genetic killer among children and young adults is Cystic Fibrosis. This disease is passed from parents who carry the gene. Parents have a faulty copy of the gene. Each child of parents who have faulty copies of the gene has a one in four chances inheriting the disease. Approximately one in 3500 of children born in the United States are afflicted with the disease that clogs the pathways to major organs with thick mucous disrupting their normal body functions. Not only does this disease block the airways with the thick mucus in the lungs but also blocks passages to major organs including the pancreas, liver and the reproductive system.

In the “1930’s, 80% of infants diagnosed with CF died before their 1st birthday.” (Whitford, 2005). In 1980, the average life expectancy for 82% of CF patients was 12 yrs of age; this was due to the research conducted to improve the treatments available (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2004).

Despite the attempts to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) the disease is still killing children and adults every year, the search for a cure is doing more harm than good therefore researchers should not focus funding and research on finding a cure.

In 1990, an infant was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a rare genetic disease, at 3 months of age; the life expectancy of this child-based on the severity of the disease was 7 years of age. Although there were treatments available to prolong her life, they were not a guarantee.

After many months of tests and several hospital stays, this child was doomed to die a premature death without a cure, her abdomen was distended caused by her body’s inability to process the nourishment she received and often she gasped for air