Cystic Fibrosis: facts

• CF is the most common life threatening, recessive genetic condition affecting Australian children with 1 in every 2,500 babies born will be diagnosed with this disease.

• CF is an inherited condition. For a child to be born with CF both parents must be genetic carriers for CF. They do not have CF
themselves.

• Repeated infections and blockages can cause irreversible lung damage and death. Mucus can also cause problems in the
pancreas preventing the release of enzymes needed for the
digestion of food. Individual with CF commonly have problems with nutrition, bone development and growth.

• With today’s improved treatment most people with CF are able to
lead reasonably normal and productive lives. People with CF are required to take various amounts of medications and undergo extensive physiotherapy to increase and maintain lung function and capacity on a daily basis regardless of their level of health.

• At present there is no cure for CF, but the faulty gene has been identified and doctors and scientists are working to find ways of repairing or replacing it.Pharmaceuticals are also being developed to correct the ineffective transport of sodium.