About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a fatal inherited disorder, affecting mainly the lungs and the digestive systems.

In the lungs, where the effects of the disease are most devastating, CF causes severe respiratory problems. In the digestive tract, CF often results in extreme difficulty in digesting and absorbing adequate nutrients from food. Children and young adults with CF must consume a large number of artificial enzymes to help them absorb sufficient nutrition, and must undergo a demanding daily routine of physical therapy designed to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection.

Despite aggressive treatment, lung infection and complications eventually claim the lives of people with CF. The median age of life expectancy of a child born with CF is about 35 years.