Intro4u2u

When the students in Mrs. Hill’s eighth-grade algebra class heard that the new guy joining their class had cystic fibrosis, they weren’t sure what to expect. They wondered if he would look pale and sick or if he would need help carrying his books or getting around.

But when Alex finally arrived, everyone was surprised. Although Alex coughed sometimes and he had to take medicine and eat several times a day, he looked healthy and participated in sports, played guitar, and enjoyed camping.
What Is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that causes the body to produce mucus that’s extremely thick and sticky. The mucus in people with CF is thicker than normal because CF affects cells in the epithelium (pronounced: eh-puh-thee-lee-um), the layer of cells that lines the passages in the body’s organs. In a person who does not have CF, the epithelial cells produce a thin, watery mucus that acts like a lubricant and helps protect the body’s tissues. In a person with CF, however, the thicker mucus doesn’t move as easily. This thick, sticky mucus clogs passages in many of the body’s organs.

The two organs that are most affected are the lungs and pancreas, where the thick mucus causes breathing and digestive problems. The thicker mucus has trouble moving out of the lungs, so bacteria can remain and cause infections. The thick mucus can also be found in the pancreas - an organ that produces proteins called enzymes that flow into the intestine to support the body’s digestion process. Because the mucus can block the path between the pancreas and the intestines, people with CF have trouble digesting food and getting the vitamins and nutrients they need from it.

CF can also affect the liver, the sweat glands, and the reproductive organs.