top of page

About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a Genetic Disease
People with CF have inherited two copies of the defective CF gene – one copy from each parent.Both parents must have at least one copy of the defective gene. People with only one copy of the defective CF gene are called carriers, but they do not have the disease. Each time two CF carriers have a child the chances are:

 

  • 25% the child will have CF

  • 50% the child will be a carrier but will not have CF

  • 25% the child will not be a carrier and will not have CF

 


The defective CF gene contains an abnormality called a mutation. There are more than 1,700 known mutations of the disease. Most genetic tests only screen for the most common CF mutations, DeltaF508.


CF Population 

 

  • More than 30,000 people are living with cystic fibrosis in America (more than 70,000 worldwide)

  • Cystic fibrosis affects people of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds

  • Approximately 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year

  • About one in every 30 Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene

  • 2015 was the first year in which more than half of the CF population was 18 or older


CF Symptoms 
Cystic fibrosis is a complex disease and the types and severity of symptoms can differ widely from person to person. Many different factors, such as age of diagnosis, can affect an individual's health and the course of the disease. Symptoms include:

 

  • Frequent lung infections including pneumonia or bronchitis

  • Wheezing or shortness of breath

  • Persistent coughing

  • Poor growth or weight gain in spite of a good appetite

  • Very salty-tasting skin

  • Male infertility


CF Treatment 
Currently, there's no cure for CF. Each day, people with CF complete a combination of the following treatments:

 

  • Airway clearance to help loosen and get rid of the thick mucus that can build up in the lungs. Many people with CF use an inflatable vest that vibrates the chest at a high frequency to help loosen mucus.

  • Inhaled medication to open the airways or thin the mucus. These are liquid medicines that are made into a mist or aerosol and then inhaled through a nebulizer. These medicines include antibiotics to fight lung infections and therapies to help keep the airways clear.

  • Pancreatic enzyme supplement capsules to improve the absorption of vital nutrients. These supplements are taken with every meal and most snacks.

​​​

Nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of CF Foundation support.

bottom of page