Table of Contents Information on Cystic Fibrosis? How Common Is Cystic Fibrosis? Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms Suspecting a Child May Have Cystic Fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms & Diagnosis What Makes Cystic Fibrosis a Genetic Disease? Cystic Fibrosis Treatment How the Gene Mutation Causes Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy as a Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Detecting Cystic Fibrosis in an Unborn Baby Can Cystic Fibrosis Be Prevented? How Patients and Their Families can Cope Keeping on Top of Your Conditio

Can Cystic Fibrosis be Prevented?

Yet, CF might be prevented in the future. Since CF occurs only when both parents pass on a CF gene to a child, it could be prevented by identifying all carriers of CF genes. Genetic counselors might then persuade couples who are carriers not to have children. However, as noted, current tests can detect only some of the more than 400 gene mutations and so the tests are only 80-85 percent accurate.

Yet, progress in gene therapy and the realization that not all CF mutations are life-threatening should reassure couples. Potential parents who carry the defective gene may choose to have children.