 | | | | Gastrostomy tube (G-tube) |
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Gastrostomy tube (G-tube)
A small tube that delivers food and sometimes medicines, directly into your belly. It helps CF patients get enough calories and good nutrition.
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER)
Food is supposed to go down, but sometimes in CF patients, a little bit comes back up into the esophagus. It feels like bad heartburn. Hemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae)
A type of bacteria that can cause ear or sinus infections, and pneumonia. Hemoptysis
Sometimes kids with CF can cough up blood when there's a lung infection. Inflammation
Redness, soreness and swelling – is our body's way of telling us something is wrong, and it's trying to fix it. Influenza
A highly contagious disease, the flu is caused by various strains of the influenza virus. Characterized by sudden onset, fever, severe aches, pains and respiratory symptoms. Each year in late fall/early winter an influenza vaccine, or flu shot, is available for individuals, such as CF patients, who are susceptible to the severe respiratory illness that can be caused by the flu. Liver disease (CF-related)
The liver makes bile which we need for digestion. Bile in CF patients is thick and can block bile ducts in the liver which causes problems. Malabsorption
Poor absorption of nutrients from food, which can lead to malnutrition, weight loss, and increased risk of infection. Mucus
A sticky, slippery substance in the mouth, nose, throat and airways. Mucus in CF patients is very thick and sticks in the intestines and lungs, where it can block small airways. Mutation
A change in the DNA instructions of a gene which changes the way it works. Many mutations lead to disease. Mutations in the CFTR gene lead to cystic fibrosis. | 
