Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, inherited disease. “Inherited” means the disease is passed from parents to children through genes. With PCD, this process is very complex. Researchers are still learning how the disease is inherited and which genes are involved.
Generally, a child must inherit faulty
genes
gene
(jeen):
The unit that passes heredity from parents to children. Genes are pieces of DNA and contain information for making a specific protein.
from both parents to have PCD. These genes affect how cilia grow and work. Cilia are tiny, hairlike structures that line the airways.
Faulty genes may cause the cilia to be the wrong size or shape or move in the wrong way. Sometimes the cilia are missing altogether. If the cilia don’t work well, bacteria stay in your airways. This can cause breathing problems, infections, and other disorders.
If a child inherits a faulty gene (or genes) from only one parent, the child may be a “PCD carrier.” Carriers usually have no symptoms of PCD. However, carriers can pass faulty PCD genes on to their children.
Book traversal links for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
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