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Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Keep reading to learn how to treat and live with CF.
Every person has two copies of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. A person must inherit two copies of the CFTR gene that contain mutations — one copy from each parent — to have cystic fibrosis.
Caring for anyone with a long-term disease — especially if that person is your child — is stressful. Parents of children with cystic fibrosis are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, or both compared to parents in general.
People with chronic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, are at greater risk for developing clinical depression. When left untreated, depression can interfere with your ability to manage your CF effectively and experience a better quality of life.
Your doctor may classify your baby as having CRMS/CFSPID if he or she has a positive newborn screen and subsequent sweat chloride test results that fall into an uncertain or borderline range described as "intermediate."
If you show symptoms of cystic fibrosis or your baby has a positive newborn screen for CF, a sweat test at a CF Foundation-accredited care center can help provide a CF diagnosis by measuring the concentration of salt in your or your baby's sweat. The test is painless and is the most reliable way to diagnose CF.
Newborn screening (NBS) is a program run by each state to identify babies born with certain health conditions, including cystic fibrosis. Although a sweat test should ultimately be done to rule out or confirm a CF diagnosis, NBS can help you and your health care providers take immediate steps to keep your child as healthy as possible.