Developing cystic fibrosis depends on both parents’ genes.
According to María Cecilia Pérez, respiratory therapist at San Juan de Dios Hospital, this is a disease that affects the mucus membranes and causes severe secretions in the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems.
Because of this, it may be confused with lung and gastric problems and it can cause infertility.
Since 2012, the neonatal screening has helped to its early detection. Currently, it is estimated that 100 children and 22 adults deal with this problem.
Those who suffer from it tend to dehydrate easily. Because of this, before the screening, parents were asked to kiss their children: If they felt a salty flavor, cystic fibrosis might be the reason. According to Pérez, with this condition it is possible to feel in them the grains of salt.
Patients present symptoms such as low birth weight, abdominal pain, oily, smelling stools and repetitive cough.
To diagnose the disease, a sweat test is required to determine chloride levels in the body. In addition, a test could determine which genes were involved. However, as Pérez explained, there are 1,800 factors associated with its development.