Cf (Cystic Fibrosis) is a genetic disease which affects the internal organs, mainly the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with mucus. This causes problems with digesting food and makes it hard to breath.
Cf is one of the most common life-threatening inherited diseases, and affects over 8500 people in the UK. It is caused by the father and mother carrying the single faulty gene that controls the movement of salt in the body. When both parents carry this faulty gene there is one in four chance of having a child with Cf, then a two in four chance of the child being a carrier and then one in four chance of not getting any Cf genes.
Cf is usually diagnosed by screening at birth but some people are diagnosed later (even adults) due to unexplained illness.
It affects many of the human organs including the lungs causing shortness of breath,wheezing, persistent cough, and persistent infections. Physiotherapy and medication is needed to help the lungs on a daily basis to prevent infection, lung damage, and sputum clearance. Cf also affects the pancreas, which causes problems digesting food. This means poor growth and physical weakness. Enzymes are needed to digest food and sometimes in older patients insulin is needed as the production can become deficient because of increased disease.
Antibiotics are needed for chest infections either intravenously or orally. This can be on a regular basis depending on the person. Every Cf patient is different!!
The pancreas usually produces enzymes, but in people with Cf the thick secretions block the normal flow. This results in food not being absorbed properly or digested, namely fatty foods. This means that with every meal/snack (food intake) tablets have to be taken (enzymes) to break down the food. Due to these digestive problems many Cf people can be underweight and need to eat alot of fatty food,high calorie supplements and in some cases do overnight feeding.
There are many other problems that can occur with Cf, but like i said,every person suffering with this disease is different. Its a life long condition, and with improved treatments there has been (and will be) dramatic increases in the survival rate in Cf sufferers.
Fingers crossed one day there will be a cure!!
