Today is National Cystic Fibrosis Day, it is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system and makes children who suffer from it more vulnerable to repeated lung infections.
This disease is one of the most serious and frequent genetic diseases, it is calculated the incidence in our country is one in 5000 newborns. The motto of the Spanish Cystic Fibrosis Federation so that we all become aware of the problem is 'You breathe without thinking ... I only think about breathing!' Early diagnosis, by detection in newborns (neonatal screening), It is essential to establish treatment early and prevent lung deterioration.
The Spanish Federation of Cystic Fibrosis and its regional associations continue to insist on the urgent need to generalize the test throughout the country, extending it to the missing autonomous communities: Navarra, Castilla-La Mancha, Ceuta and Asturias
Cystic fibrosis it is diagnosed more and more soon, usually during breastfeeding. In any case, approximately 15% of those affected by this disease are subsequently diagnosed (even during adulthood). Symptoms usually focus on the lungs and organs of the digestive system and can cover varying degrees of severity.
A small number of children with cystic fibrosis begin to have symptoms as soon as they are born
Although there is still no definitive cure, in recent years much progress has been made in the treatment of the disease and its complications, despite that it remains a pathology without cure.
It is essential that we continue to invest in research, as do other countries. From the Federation they affirm that cuts in health and social benefits, endanger the quality of life of people with serious diseases like this.
Soon, British scientists will carry out the largest trial of a gene therapy for cystic fibrosis, I imagine that the families of those affected will wait for the results impatiently.
