Parent’s Guide to Cystic Fibrosis

The fourth volume in the University of Minnesota Guides to Birth and Childhood Disorders series explains in detail the genetic causes and biological effects of cystic fibrosis, as well as its social and psychological implications. The authors describe how the body’s various systems - respiratory, digestive, reproductive and musculo-skeletal - respond to the disease and outline the strategies employed to control it. Recent advances in treatment are summarized and a synopsis of some of the most promising reasearch is provided. Stressing a personal, informative approach, the authors have augmented the text with case histories and comments from parents and patients. An entire chapter is devoted to family life, and selections from a Family Diary round out the first six chapters.