Cystic fibrosis is a disease that affects the way salt and water move in and out of the body's cells. The main areas affected by this disease are in the lungs and the digestive system, mainly the pancreas. The sweat glands are also affected, which makes a saltier sweat than normal. Sweat is often used as a test to diagnose cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is present at birth, although the signs may not show up for awhile after birth. The parents of a child with cystic fibrosis will not have it, and there is often no history of the disease in the family. It is most common among Caucasians, and is the most commonly inherited disease. It affects about 1 in 2,500 babies that are born.
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