CF is the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited disease. It currently effects over 8,000 people in the UK. Approximately 1 in 25 people are carriers of the “CF gene”. If two carriers have a child, the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of being born with CF.
CF primarily affects the lungs and digestive system, clogging them with thick, sticky mucus.
As a result, both physiotherapy and a nebuliser are usually used to control chest infections and prevent lung damage. When oral antibiotics do not manage to cure an infection, it is common to receive them intravenously (often administered from hospital).
CF prevents the Pancreas from releasing the vital enzymes to digest food. As a result, supplementary enzymes (usually Creon) are taken. Although Creon has increased in effectiveness in recent years, they are still not foolproof and some people with CF therefore suffer from malnutrition.
CF can affect the body in several other ways, such as osteoporosis, diabetes and liver disease.
Read more about CF at www.cftrust.org.uk