NN+3+Project+Choices

1. Cystic Fibrosis
 * where the body produces to much mucus in the lungs
 * inherited by mutations to the CFTR gene
 * Symptoms:
 * overly salty sweat
 * constant coughing (may include phlegm)
 * wheezing/restricted breathing
 * stunted growth
 * not able to gain weight or grow normally even though the person eats normal amounts of food
 * difficult bowel movements
 * fatigue
 * nasal polyps (where a person has small tissue growths in the nasal passage)
 * people with CF often develop other diseases such as:
 * lung infections
 * lung infections are frequent because the body is not able to clear the bacteria out of the body
 * sinus infections
 * pneumonia
 * diabetes
 * meconium ileus
 * where the meconium in a newborn is unusually thick, obstructing the bowel as opposed to passing through the bowel
 * resulting in immediate surgery

2. Autism:
 * impaired social life
 * can't communicate
 * learning issues
 * it can affect anyone, the only increase in risk is being male. (Y chromosome disease?)
 * Symptoms:
 * range from mild to severe, sometimes resulting in need of permanent care
 * "impaired social interaction"
 * communication (verbal and non-verbal) problems
 * repeating acts such as rocking
 * 25% have seizures
 * classified as mentally retarded by a non-verbal IQ test

3. Hemophilia
 * where the blood clots too slowly or not at all
 * more common in males than females (Y chromosome disease?)
 * Symptoms:
 * "prolonged oozing after injury"
 * longer period of bleeding after injury/surgery
 * spontaneous joint bleeding/bowels/brain/soft tissues
 * throwing up blood
 * passing blood in the stool
 * sudden pain in joints
 * stroke