In a young baby, it may lead to mental retardation, blindness, and other defects. Early treatment with medications may reduce the risk of serious problems. Cystic fibrosis occurs when there are abnormal amounts of salt in body secretions, especially in the lungs and pancreas. In the lungs, airways become blocked leading to chronic infections, lung damage, and death from lung failure. Severe malnutrition can result from pancreatic involvement.
Medical treatment includes replacing digestive enzymes, antibiotics, and careful monitoring.
Early diagnosis may improve growth and long-term outcome. Tyrosinemia is a genetic inborn error of metabolism that causes developmental delay, profound liver dysfunction, kidney problems, and liver cell cancer. There are often neurologic problems as well. If initiated early, a low-protein diet limited in phenylalanine and tyrosine is effective in preventing these problems. HIV is transmitted through sexual intercourse or through exposure to infected blood or body fluids.