What is Cystic Fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a serious, lifelong condition affecting approximately 1 in 2500 Australian babies. It is an inherited (genetic) condition which causes a build up of thick, sticky mucous. This mucous can affect many parts of the body and cause a range of different problems.

The most common problems are lung disease (the thick mucous is difficult to cough up and traps bacteria which causes recurrent infections), problems with food absorption (as the sticky mucous makes it difficult for the digestive enzymes which are made in the pancreas to reach the digestive system) increased salt loss from the sweat glands and infertility in males.

There is no cure for CF and treatment involves daily physiotherapy, frequent courses of antibiotics and enzyme and nutrient supplementation. Although these slow the progression of the disease, the quality of life and lifespan of affected individuals can be severely affected. With improved treatment, the average lifespan is about 30 years and is expected to increase even further with research and development. More information about the clinical aspects of cystic fibrosis can be obtained from Cystic Fibrosis Victoria, (www.cfv.org.au).