CF

Question

My little girl is 11 years old. In 2007 we went to Timisoara [Romania], to Dr. Zagorca Popa for CF. It all started at the age of 8 months with celiac disease, followed from the age of 5 by bacterial pneumonias. The genetic test was negative, but the sweat test was positive (68, 58). 5 years have passed and she gets pneumonia every two months. She cannot expectorate because of the stickiness of the secretions. After 6 weeks following the treatment, it starts again. If she succeeds to expectorate, the secretions are stiff, cork-like and sticky. Her forehead is salty, she is easily destabilized, and she loses 2 kilograms weight. Her fever rises up to 40°C and persists for 5 days. The recovery is difficult. Even with the dietary treatment for celiac disease and the antibiotic treatment, she gets rectocolitis. The secretions are not only viscous, but also very sticky and they stick to fingers. Please give me an advice.

Answer

Hello,
The symptoms described are complex and can be apparently matched with the diagnis of cystic fibrosis. From your report she has celiac disease, but this diagnosis does not exclude CF, it is known that these two diseases can be frequently associated. In order to establish a diagnosis, a reevaluation (investigations, genetic tests) is necessary. The National Center is founded in Timisoara, where you have previously been and you can return for a reevaluation. The coordinator is Dr. Zagorca Popa. Other Regional Centers can be found in Brasov- Children Hospital, Bucharest- Marie Curie Hospital, The Institute for Mother and Child Alferd Rusescu, Grigore Alexandrescu Hospital, Cluj- Pediatrics Clinic III, Constanta- County Hospital- Pediatrics, Craiova- Childrens Hospital- Pediatrics Clinic, Iasi- Pediatrics Clinic II and Pediatrics Clinic III.
Our advice is to reevaluate the child in a specialized center.
Thank you.
Prof Pop

08.07.2013