EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Does your child have salty sweat or skin? Or does the child is not gaining weight like the kids around? Is he /she has a cough and Diarrhoea every other day? Then you need to check with your Doctor for Cystic Fibrosis.

What is Cystic Fibrosis and what causes it?

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease, which affects more than 30,000 people in the US. It affects the cells in the body that make up the sweat, digestive fluids, and mucus. These are usually very thin and flowy but with Cystic Fibrosis, they become very thick and sticky and thus they block the tubes inside the body. The infected inherit a copy of the gene from their parents. If only one gene is inherited then there will be no symptoms but he/she will be a carrier of the disease. 

This disease affects the:

• Lungs
• Pancreas
• Liver
• Small and Large Intestine
• Bladder
• Kidneys
• Reproductive organs

You need to consult a doctor immediately if you detect the following Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms in your child:

Respiratory Symptoms

• Continuous cough with thick sputum
• Heavy breathing
• Lung Infection
• Easily tired after exercising
• Running and stuffy nose
• Wheezing

Digestive Symptoms

• No weight gain and growth
• Constipation
• Small and large intestine blockage
• Unpleasant smelling stool

The thick mucus blocks the passage in between the pancreas and small intestine. Therefore, without the digestive enzymes, the intestine cannot absorb all the nutrients from the food, which results in poor growth of the body. Parents should consult a specialist knowledgeable about Cystic Fibrosis.

Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis

Usually, doctors carry out a blood test to check for the disease and generic test checks whether the child has a defected CFTR gene. Other tests performed are

• Immunoreactive Trypsinogen (IRT) Test- This test checks for an abnormal level of IRT in the blood. The IRT should be low for no Cystic Fibrosis.
• Sweat Chloride Test- This checks for the level of salt in the sweat. A chemical is used which makes the skin sweat and then the sweat is collected on a paper for further analysis.
• Chest X-ray- This checks for swelling in the lungs.

You can get more details about various other diagnostic tests and medication and symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis and about many other diseases in children at Nutrition4kids. They offer expert guidance and advice about various disorders, eating habits, breastfeeding and much more. 

Visit the website http://www.nutrition4kids.com for more information.

In case you missed my previous post, read it here. Thanks!

All You Need to Know About Stomach Tube Insertion in Kids

Is your child experiencing a problem in feeding or swallowing food? Is He/she is unable to intake food or liquids properly? Then this may act as a hindrance in your child’s growth. In such cases, the doctors suggest inserting a Gastronomy tube also known as G-tube or an NG-tube through the abdomen to deliver the essential nutrients into the body. 

You might be thinking about the conditions that lead to Stomach Tube Insertion. Below are some of the common conditions that your child may require a G-tube:

1. Congenital problem- Problem in the mouth, stomach, intestine.

2. Swallowing issues- Mainly due to slow development, prematurity, brain injury.

3. Failure to thrive- Unable to gain weight and abnormal body growth.

4. Unable to take in medicines

5. Severe Abdominal pain

This insertion is a small procedure, which takes about 30 to 40 minutes and a max of 2-days stay at the hospital. The healing is fast and the kids can get back to their normal activities after the incision has healed.

How to take care of the tube and skin around after the procedure

The doctor will guide you on how to take care of the tube. Make sure to keep in mind these guidelines.

• Clean tube after and before use

This will help in the smooth flow of the food into the stomach and there will not be any blockage. Use 30 ml of water to clean the tube thoroughly.

• Unclog the tube immediately

If the tube gets clogged by any chance then immediately unclog it using 60 ml of warm water. Always use water or a soft brush to clear the passage. Never use a wire.

• Keep check on the length

Always check the length of the tube from the end till the point it goes into the body. If it gets longer, it may come out and if shorter then you should inform the doctor right away.

• Clean the skin around

Make sure to clean the skin around once every two days, there should not be any rashes or swelling around. Also, keep the skin around dry to prevent any infection.

• Use antibiotic  cream

Use an antibiotic cream as directed by your doctor around the tube area after you are done with cleaning.

• Do not remove stitches

The doctor will remove the band-aid and medical tape after the skin heals within 24 hours. Ask your doctor about when can the kid shower or bathe.

You can know more about Stomach tube insertion at Nutrition4kids. They have all that you need to know about G-tube, inserting NG- tube at home, symptoms, precautions and expert tips from the best pediatrician in the field. You can also know about various kids related health issues and the best solution.

 Visit the website http://www.nutrition4kids.com/ for more information.

In case you missed my previous post, read it here. Thanks!

Protect Your Child From Malnutrition with PEG Tube Feeding

A child’s nutrition is the top most priority on any parents list. Good nutrition ensures growth and health of a child. Some children make fuzz when they eat and mostly it leaves lesser options for parents to feed their child. Sometimes, it is that your child must be having some gastrointestinal problem which might have gone undetected. 

The worst thing that children are going through is malnutrition, which consequents to serious illness and high mortality rate in one’s country. When a child’s nutrition is not met by oral feeding due to problems in digestion, appetite, swallowing and other gastrointestinal problem, doctors recommend PEG tubes to nourish the body. You can find more information about this topic on www.nutrition4kids.com. 

What is PEG tube feeding?

PEG tube feeding is needed when other types of feeding fail and they are not able to eat or drink properly. When the body cannot be nourished through IV and N-tube, doctors go for PEG tube, which is a short form for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrotomy (PEG) tube. This tube is inserted through one's skin to the stomach and through this tube medical formula, medicines and water are given.

When does a child need PEG tube feeding?

There can be a variety of reasons. Some premature infants who are not developed and strong enough to suck and swallow might need PEG tube feeding. In other cases, children with the cardiac or respiratory issue may leave them with less energy to swallow. Some children have neurological problems that might hinder oral feeding. Hence, these children develop loss in appetite and it results in malnutrition.

How durable are PEG feeding tubes?

PEG feeding tubes are known to last for months or years. But one should always take care of the tube not to break down or get clogged over extended periods of time. The doctors would recommend when to get a replacement or get it removed.

Nutrition4Kids will always be there to guide you with your queries about your child’s development. You can always trust Nutrition4Kids to make an informed choice about your child’s nutrition. Find more information about PEG tube feeding on www.nutrition4kids.com. 

If you like this post, please also read my another post about Gluten Intolerant Test