Treatment

The type and severity of cystic fibrosis symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. Although treatment plans may contain many of the same elements, they are tailored to the unique needs of each patient.

People with cystic fibrosis need to work closely with medical professionals and families to create individualised treatment plans.

On a daily basis, people with cystic fibrosis must use the following therapies:

• Airway clearing to help loosen and get rid of thick mucus that can build up in the lungs. Some airway clearing techniques require the help of family members, friends or therapists. Many people with cystic fibrosis use an inflatable waistcoat that vibrates the chest at a high frequency to help loosen and thin the mucus.
• Inhaled medicines to open the airways or dilute the mucus. These are liquid medicines that are made in vapour or aerosol form. These medicines include antibiotics to fight lung infections and help keep the airways clear.
• Medicines that enable the absorption of essential nutrients. These supplements are taken with each meal. People with cystic fibrosis usually also take multivitamins.

How to function with the disease?

Cystic fibrosis is a complex disease and the types and severity of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Many different factors can affect a person's health and the course of the disease.

People with cystic fibrosis are more prone to lung infections because thick, sticky mucus builds up in the lungs, allowing germs to grow and multiply. Lung infections, caused mainly by bacteria, are a serious and chronic problem for many people living with the disease. Minimising contact with germs is a major concern for people with cystic fibrosis.

The accumulation of mucus in the pancreas can also inhibit the absorption of food and key nutrients, leading to malnutrition and weight deficiency. In the liver, mucus can block the bile duct, causing liver disease. In men, cystic fibrosis can cause infertility.

photo: panthermedia

Breakthrough therapies enable people with cystic fibrosis to live longer. Today, the age of survival with this disease is around 40 years, where back in the 1950s, survival rates were much lower, as patients often died in early childhood.

Due to tremendous advances in research and care, many people with cystic fibrosis live long enough to realise their dreams of attending university, having a career, getting married and having children.

Despite significant advances in the treatment of the disease, there is still no effective cure and many people die prematurely.