| 2011 |
| [nutrition assignment 2] |
Pharmacy assistant course |
Darragh slade
|
Introduction
This assignment looks at the dietary requirements of someone with cystic fibrosis.
In this assignment I shall be discussing, what cystic fibrosis is, how people are born with it, a suitable menu and meal plan best suited for someone with CF.
Cystic Fibrosis
What is Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease of the exocrine glands, usually developing during early childhood and affecting mainly the pancreas, respiratory system, and sweat glands. It is characterized by the production of abnormally viscous mucus by the affected glands, usually resulting in chronic respiratory infections and impaired pancreatic function. Also called mucoviscidosis.
Cystic fibrosis is transmitted to a child when both parents carry the recessive gene but do not have the disease. When such a couple has children, there is a 25 percent chance that one of their children will develop cystic fibrosis; there is a 50 percent chance that the child will carry the gene, but will not have the disease; and a 25 percent chance that the child will be totally unaffected.
Risk factors
* Lungs
* Pancreas
* Gastrointestinal tract
* Reproductive organs
* sinuses
As cystic fibrosis progresses, frequent lung infections as pneumonia often lead to problems breathing, lung damage, prolonged courses of antibiotics, and respiratory failure. After a while, this condition will require ventilator support. CF can also lead to frequent sinus infections, diabetes mellitus, difficulty with digestion, as well as infertility. Currently, most individuals with cystic fibrosis die young, many of them in their 20s and 30s. The most common cause of death is lung failure.
Treatment
An early diagnosis of CF and a comprehensive treatment plan can improve both survival chances and the quality of life for these patients. Specialty clinics for cystic fibrosis may be helpful, and you can find those in many communities. However, there is no treatment to cure cystic fibrosis completely. The treatment’s aim is to prevent and treat lung infections. It also aims to keep the airways and lungs as clear as possible, and improve nutritional status.
Dietary issues
Caloric Requirements.
One of the major functions of food is to supply energy. The amount of energy a food provides is measured in calories, sometimes abbreviated as cals.
Most people with CF have a higher caloric requirement than other individuals of the same age and sex for these reasons:
* More energy is used in breathing.
* Extra energy is used in fighting infections and during fevers.
* Fewer of the energy-producing nutrients in food are properly digested and absorbed into the body, even when treatment is optimal.
In order to meet his or her energy requirements, the typical CF child receiving enzyme therapy must consume approximately 120 to 150 percent of calories for a healthy child of the same age and sex. This figure varies considerably from person to person, and can be as high as 200 percent of a healthy child. Energy requirements are particularly high for children who are catching up on growth and development after a period of poor nutrition.
How can an individual’s calorie requirements be calculated? Your child’s nutritionist can do tests to establish the resting metabolic rate (the amount of energy required at rest); with that, total energy requirements can be calculated. On a more practical level, adequate caloric intake can be defined as the level that promotes normal growth and development in children, and maintenance of desirable body weight in grown individuals.