Call GI Care for Kids in the Greater Atlanta area at (404) 257-0799
Overview
At Gl Care for Kids, we provide care to many children with cystic fibrosis. We are often initially asked to determine whether cystic fibrosis is present. Once a diagnosis has been made, we work with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers to optimize the health of children with cystic fibrosis. To ensure continuity of care, Dr. Aminu Mohammed and Dr. Dana Dykes are our lead physicians helping to manage the gastrointestinal problems of children with cystic fibrosis.
What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that is caused by changes in a gene that directs mucus production, leading to the production of abnormally thick mucus. Because of this, cystic fibrosis patients develop many problems, especially in the lungs and the digestive tract. Thick mucus can clog the lungs and lead to serious infections. In addition, the thick mucus does not allow for normal pancreatic enzyme secretion, which in turn results in malabsorption and poor growth.
Cystic fibrosis affects about 1 in every 3,000 live births in this country. Approximately 1,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Signs and Symptoms
Potential signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis include:
- Poor growth
- Frequent greasy stools or constipation
- Pneumonia
- Intestinal obstruction (meconium ileus)
- Sinusitis
- Nasal polyps
- Wheezing (asthma)
- Persistent coughing
- Rectal prolapse
- Low sodium levels
- Liver or gallbladder dysfunction
How Is cystic fibrosis diagnosed?
There are many ways to diagnose cystic fibrosis, including screening newborns, analyzing the salt content of sweat (which is very high in patients with cystic fibrosis), measuring pancreatic enzymes, and conducting genetic testing. If your pediatrician is worried your child may have cystic fibrosis, please provide all of the child’s growth records and previous evaluations at the initial appointment with us at the nearest GI Care for Kids location.
More info about cystic fibrosis in children
Helpful information about cystic fibrosis can also be found here:
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Cystic Fibrosis & Nutrition (by GI Kids, the public education arm of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition or NASPGHAN)
- Testing for Cystic Fibrosis (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation)
- Nutrition4kids.com (a resource for parents who want to feed their kids well, regardless of medical challenges or allergies. Subscribe for updates personalized for you and your child.)