- Cystic fibrosis:
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive chronic dis¬ease that affects the body’s mucous glands. It is caused by a defective gene that makes the body produce thick mucus, which in turn affects the respiratory and digestive systems in children and young adults. CF children suffer from regular lung infections, as well as disrupted digestion because of pancreas enzymes shortage. Consequently, they tolerate slow weight gain, daily cough with mucus and shortness of breath.
Around 80 children with Cystic fibrosis (CF) are currently receiving treatment at Caritas Baby Hospital. This makes us one of the leading centers for the diagnosis and treatment of CF in Palestine. There are about 300 CF patients in Palestine, most of which are children.
If you have CF history in the family or suspect that your child might be affected, a sweat test can be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
- Asthma:
Asthma is a disease that causes inflammation and narrowing inside the child’s lungs, restricting air supply and producing extra mucus. This can cause breathing difficulties and lead to coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD):
This disease is also known as chronic lung disease in premature babies and leads to long-term breathing problems. Premature babies often require a ventilator to receive sufficient air to breathe, and sometimes this device or the oxygen itself, injures their lungs.
- Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD):
PCD is a rare genetic disorder that affects the cilia, whose function is to protect the airway from dust, bacteria and other particles.
Common symptoms of PCD include:
- Chronic coughing and sneezing
- Excess mucus
- Hearing loss
- Middle ear infections
