Cystic fibrosis is a genetically acquired disease that is usually diagnosed in children by the age of two, although symptoms might not appear in some individuals until they reach their late teens or early twenties. It can be most easily diagnosed by performing a sweat test on infants for the presence of excessive chloride. It mainly affects the respiratory and digestive systems, but has its greatest impact on lung function. Patients with Cystic fibrosis produce excessive amounts of thick, tenacious mucus which can clog the airways leading into the lungs. These patients require aggressive therapy because they are easily susceptible to lung infections. Cystic fibrosis, or CF patients has a poor prognosis as recently as the 1970's, when they seldom survived past puberty. The development of newer medications and advancements in surgical procedures have extended the live expectancy of CF patients into their thirties, and even forties.

The treatment regimen includes the use of inhaled broncho-dilators to open the airways, and

mucolytic agents to break down the thick mucus. These aerosol treatments are accompanied

by a therapeutic modality called chest physiotherapy. This includes the administration of chest percussion, which utilizes cupped hands to loosen the mucus that clogs the airways.

The patient's body is placed in various positions to facilitate the clearing of mucus congestion in the various lung segments. The patient's family members can be taught to perform this therapy by a qualified nurse or respiratory therapist. Maintenance of proper nutrition is another critical component to optimizing the health of these patients.

There have been CF patients who have had their lives extended for years by undergoing lung transplant surgery, but this is only performed in specific instances.

Cystic fibrosis is a debilitating disease, but its victims have been able to experience improved quality of life and greater longevity through recent breakthroughs in medical research. Advances in genetic research, however, will provide the best chance for a cure to this crippling disorder.

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