• SPECIALIST SOLICITORS
• NEGLIGENCE LAW
• COMPENSATION AWARDS
• TIME LIMITS
• LITIGATION PROCEDURE
• LEGAL AID
• NO WIN NO FEE
• INQUEST LAWYERS

• anaesthetic awareness
• birth injury
• brain haemorrhage
• cancer misdiagnosis
• cauda equina syndrome
• cerebral palsy
• cosmetic surgery
• dental negligence
• gynaecology errors
• laparoscopy surgery
• medical negligence solicitors
• neonatal conditions
• obstetric cholestasis
• surgery negligence
• gastric band surgery
• prescription errors

Cystic Fibrosis - Medical Negligence Claim

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary, serious disorder that affects the nutritional components of the GI tract and the respiratory tract. It affects the mucus-producing cells and the cells that produce sweat and digestive juices. The secretions become extremely thick and sticky so that the secretions plug passageways in the lungs, digestive tract and pancreas.

Those who are of northern European descent have the greatest incidence of cystic fibrosis and it occurs in one out of every 3000 live births. It used to be fatal in the teens but with better management, it now is survivable into a person's 50's or older.

The signs and symptoms are different, depending on the sufferer. The severity of the disease can wax and wane, with some people having symptoms in infancy. Others don't have symptoms until the teen years or in adulthood.

Cystic fibrosis individuals have excessively high salt content in the skin. The salt can be tasted on the skin. There are signs and symptoms that affect the digestive tract and the respiratory system. The respiratory symptoms include a persistent cough with wheezing, repeated sinus infections and persistent lung infections. The digestive symptoms include a lack of digestion of nutrients so that the stools are greasy and foul-smelling. There is limited weight gain and a lack of proper growth. The abdomen is distended due to constipation and there can be blockage of the intestines in newborn infants.

The cause of cystic fibrosis is a single defective gene that regulates the amount of salt movement in and out of the cells. The secretions become too thick in the digestive, reproductive and respiratory symptoms. There is an increased salt content in the sweat. The defective gene is recessive, meaning that both parents have at least one copy of the defective gene. One out of four of their children will have the disease. The rest may be carriers of cystic fibrosis.

Risk factors for cystic fibrosis include having a family history of cystic fibrosis and being of northern European descent.

Complications of cystic fibrosis include getting bronchiectasis, which is a dilatation and scarring of the bronchial tree. The child gets chronic infections due to an inability to clear secretions in the lungs. A collapsed lung is possible if the lung gets very scarred and damaged. Nasal polyps tend to grow in the nasal mucosa. The lungs can become so bad that respiratory failure occurs.

Digestive complications include deficiencies in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, K and E. Protein is poorly absorbed as well, leading to protein malnutrition. Diabetes can develop because the pancreas fails to work properly. The bile ducts can become blocked. There can be liver cirrhosis from long term liver damage. Frequent straining at stools can result in rectal prolapse. Intussusception is a condition where the intestines fold on itself causing an emergency bowel obstruction.

Complications of the reproductive system include infertility related to inability of sperm to pass through the vas deferens. Women can have reduced fertility but are often still able to become pregnant.

Other more unusual complications include getting osteoporosis from vitamin D deficiency and having an electrolyte disturbance because so much salt comes out in the sweat.

Doctors often test for cystic fibrosis as part of neonatal screening tests. A blood test at birth is all that is necessary. A sweat test can determine the salt content of sweat by putting on a sweat producing chemical on the skin. Genetic testing can be done to see if you are a carrier of the disease or if you have cystic fibrosis. Sputum testing can tell if there are bacterial infections in the lungs.

There are x-ray tests for cystic fibrosis. A plain chest x-ray can determine if there is hyperinflation of the lungs and clogged nasal passages or bronchial passages. CT scan can be done and MRI testing can do the same sort of testing. Lung function studies are done to see how damaged the lungs are.

The treatment of cystic fibrosis involves tackling many things. Antibiotics are used to treat respiratory infections that are common in cystic fibrosis. There are medications that thin the thickened mucus in the lungs and bronchodilators are used to open up the breathing passages.

There are therapies done on the chest that manually get rid of the excess mucus including chest clappers, breathing devices and inflatable vests that vibrate to get rid of the lung mucus. A lung transplant is done in severe cases.

For the digestive tract, the main treatment involves the use of feeding tubes to maximize the absorption of calories and nutrients. Surgery may be necessary on the bowels to treat an acute obstruction.