Discussion: Alterations in Cellular Processes
Number of sources: 3
Paper instructions:
Scenario: A mother brings her 6-month-old daughter to the HCP for Assessment of possible colic. The mother says the baby has had many episodes of crying after eating and, despite having a good appetite, is not gaining weight. The mother says the baby’s belly “gets all swollen sometimes.” The mother says the baby tastes “salty” when the mother kisses the baby. Further work up reveals a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. The mother relates that her 23-month-old son has had multiple episodes of “chest congestion” and was hospitalized once for pneumonia. The mother wants to know what cystic fibrosis is and she also wants to know if she should have any more children.
Post an explanation of the disease highlighted in the scenario you were provided. Include the following in your explanation:
-The role genetics plays in the disease.
-Why the patient is presenting with the specific symptoms described.
-The physiologic response to the stimulus presented in the scenario and why you think this response occurred.
-The cells that are involved in this process.
-How another characteristic (e.g., gender, genetics) would change your response.
Alterations in Cellular Processes
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that occurs due to changes or mutations in the CFTR gene. The gene makes the code that instructs the body to make the cystic fibrosis membrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein (Kang et al., 2019). Children are at risk of the disease if they inherit the cystic fibrosis gene from both parents. Parents can be carriers of the gene and pass it on to their children (Sharma & Cutting, 2020). Healthy parents can still pass the genetic code to their children.
Cystic fibrosis can present in children through various symptoms such as congested lungs, slow growth, and salty skin. The parents should take the responsibility of taking additional tests to ensure the healthcare workers can address the condition effectively (Sharma & Cutting, 2020). The mother should explain the history of cystic fibrosis to help the practitioners to establish a link between the two health conditions.
Cystic fibrosis triggers physiological responses that change the body cell’s electrolyte transport system. Electrolytes are substances that are essential in the function of cells. The physiological responses affect the electrolyte transport system thus causing salty skin and congestion of the lungs (Davison, 2018). The responses are a result of the body attempting to fight against the malfunction of the cells.
The cells involved in the condition are Macrophages which are innate immune cells. The activity of the cells contributes to the immunity-induced pathological process. On the other hand, gender has an impact on cystic fibrosis (Sharma & Cutting, 2020). One of the factors is the difference in occurrence among males and females. Another important factor is the family. The family factor impacts the transfer and occurrence of the health condition.
References
Davison, S. (2018). Assessment of liver disease in cystic fibrosis. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, 27, 24-27.
Kang, D., Revtovich, A. V., Chen, Q., Shah, K. N., Cannon, C. L., & Kirienko, N. V. (2019). Pyoverdine-dependent virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 2048.
Sharma, N., & Cutting, G. R. (2020). The genetics and genomics of cystic fibrosis. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 19, S5-S9.
