Treatments for Cystic fibrosis
Although there is no specific treatment for cystic fibrosis, there are several procedures followed to ease the symptoms and reduce the complications to improve life quality. The management of this disease is complex and requires treatment at the center under a good team of doctors and medical professionals to evaluate and treat the condition.
The main objectives include
Providing adequate nutrients
Removal of mucus from the lungs
Treating and preventing the blockage of the intestine and other tubes
Controlling the infection to occur in the lungs
Medications
Several medications are given to the patients; these medications include the ones that target gene mutation. Recently a new medication involving three drugs to treat the genetic mutation causing CF has shown to be effective and a major achievement in the treatment.
Medications that target gene
As the disease is caused due to certain gene mutations; therefore, the doctors recommend Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CTFR). The newly invented medications help improve the function of the fault CFTR protein, which can play a role in improving the function of the lungs and reduce the amount of salt in sweat. These medications have been approved for the people with one or more CFTR gene mutations.
A combination of medicine containing lumacaftor, ivacaftor, and ivacaftor has been a new medicine combination and has been approved for people age 12 and older. The medicine has provided amazing results.
Ivacaftor alone is approved for children of 6 months and older.
However, liver function tests and eyes exam is required before the prescription of these medications and testing regularly is also needed to check for side effects such as liver function abnormalities and cataracts.