ABSTRACT
Cystic fibrosis is the commonest autosomal recessive inherited disease, having and incidence of one in 2,000 births, with one in 22 of the population carrying the defective gene.
The condition causes an exocrine gland dysfunction leading to the overproduction of thick viscid mucus which can cause problems in the bowels and in particular in the lungs. Death usually occurs before the age of 30 years and is the result of respiratory infection and cor pulmonale.
