What is the cure for cystic fibrosis?

Answer 1

Since CF is a genetic disease, the only way to prevent or cure it would be with gene therapy at an early age. Ideally, gene therapy could repair or replace the defective gene. Another option for treatment would be to give a person with CF the active form of the protein product that is scarce or missing. At present, neither gene therapy nor any other kind of treatment exists for the basic causes of cystic fibrosis, although several drug-based approaches are being investigated. In the meantime, the best that doctors can do is to ease the symptoms of cystic fibrosis or slow the progress of the disease so the patient's quality of life is improved. This is achieved by antibiotic therapy combined with treatments to clear the thick mucus from the lungs. The therapy is tailored to the needs of each patient. For patients whose disease is very advanced, lung transplantation may be an option. CF was once always fatal in childhood. Better treatment methods developed over the past 20 years have increased the average lifespan of CF patients to nearly 30 years. These treatment approaches are detailed more fully below: * Management of lung problems *: A major focus of cystic fibrosis treatment is the obstructed breathing that causes frequent lung infections. Physical therapy, exercise, and medications are used to reduce the mucus blockage of the lung's airways. *: Chest therapy consists of bronchial, or postural, drainage, which is done by placing the patient in a position that allows drainage of the mucus from the lungs. At the same time, the chest or back is clapped (percussed) and vibrated to dislodge the mucus and help it move out of the airways. This process is repeated over different parts of the chest and back to loosen the mucus in different areas of each lung. This procedure has to be done for children by family members but older patients can learn to do it by themselves. Mechanical aids that help chest physical therapy are available commercially. Exercise also helps to loosen the mucus, stimulate coughing to clear the mucus, and improve the patient's overall physical condition. *: Medications used to help breathing are often aerosolized (misted) and can be inhaled. These medicines include bronchodilators (which widen the breathing tubes), mucolytics (which thin the mucus), and decongestants (which reduce swelling of the membranes of the breathing tubes). A recent advance, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is an inhaled aerosolized enzyme that thins the mucus by digesting the cellular material trapped in it. Antibiotics to fight lung infections also are used and may be taken orally or in aerosol form, or by injection into a vein. * Management of digestive problems *: The digestive problems in CF are less serious and more easily managed than those in the lungs. A well-balanced, high-caloric diet, low in fat and high in protein, and pancreatic enzymes (which help digestion) are often prescribed. Supplements of vitamins A, D, E, and K are given to ensure good nutrition. Enemas and mucolytic agents are used to treat intestinal obstructions (hoped i helpedout) *: http://www.healthnewsflash.com/conditions/cystic_fibrosis.php Since CF is a genetic disease, the only way to prevent or cure it would be with gene therapy at an early age. Ideally, gene therapy could repair or replace the defective gene. Another option for treatment would be to give a person with CF the active form of the protein product that is scarce or missing. At present, neither gene therapy nor any other kind of treatment exists for the basic causes of cystic fibrosis, although several drug-based approaches are being investigated. In the meantime, the best that doctors can do is to ease the symptoms of cystic fibrosis or slow the progress of the disease so the patient's quality of life is improved. This is achieved by antibiotic therapy combined with treatments to clear the thick mucus from the lungs. The therapy is tailored to the needs of each patient. For patients whose disease is very advanced, lung transplantation may be an option. CF was once always fatal in childhood. Better treatment methods developed over the past 20 years have increased the average lifespan of CF patients to nearly 30 years. These treatment approaches are detailed more fully below: * Management of lung problems *: A major focus of cystic fibrosis treatment is the obstructed breathing that causes frequent lung infections. Physical therapy, exercise, and medications are used to reduce the mucus blockage of the lung's airways. *: Chest therapy consists of bronchial, or postural, drainage, which is done by placing the patient in a position that allows drainage of the mucus from the lungs. At the same time, the chest or back is clapped (percussed) and vibrated to dislodge the mucus and help it move out of the airways. This process is repeated over different parts of the chest and back to loosen the mucus in different areas of each lung. This procedure has to be done for children by family members but older patients can learn to do it by themselves. Mechanical aids that help chest physical therapy are available commercially. Exercise also helps to loosen the mucus, stimulate coughing to clear the mucus, and improve the patient's overall physical condition. *: Medications used to help breathing are often aerosolized (misted) and can be inhaled. These medicines include bronchodilators (which widen the breathing tubes), mucolytics (which thin the mucus), and decongestants (which reduce swelling of the membranes of the breathing tubes). A recent advance, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is an inhaled aerosolized enzyme that thins the mucus by digesting the cellular material trapped in it. Antibiotics to fight lung infections also are used and may be taken orally or in aerosol form, or by injection into a vein. * Management of digestive problems *: The digestive problems in CF are less serious and more easily managed than those in the lungs. A well-balanced, high-caloric diet, low in fat and high in protein, and pancreatic enzymes (which help digestion) are often prescribed. Supplements of vitamins A, D, E, and K are given to ensure good nutrition. Enemas and mucolytic agents are used to treat intestinal obstructions (hoped i helpedout) *: http://www.healthnewsflash.com/conditions/cystic_fibrosis.php

Answer 2

there is no cure for cystic fibrosis but there is treatment... if you go to the hospital then they will tell you all the things that they can do and what treatment you need... if you have cystic fibrosis once in your life then you have treatment but if the treatment isn't good enough then the cystic fibrosis will come back time and time again but every time it dos it gets worse and worse every time ......

Answer 3

Well, some patients show a lot of improvement on antibiotics. A respiratory therapist is often needed for percussive treatments that loosen up mucus in the lungs, and sometimes people are given aerosolized medications that do the same thing.

If the condition is really bad, mechanical breathing might be needed.

Some people, if they have the money or the health insurance for it, get lung transplants which clears up the disease efficiently.

Answer 4

There is no cure for cystic fibrosis but it can be treated. Exercise, antibiotics and other medications, and chest physical therapy are used to treat disease.

Answer 5

receive physiotherapy, which is a system of massages to remove as much excess mucus as possible.

Answer 6

No but they can treat it and keep it at ease.... kind of