Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.

Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis. Each week, two young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis.

Around half of the CF population can expect to live over 38 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live even longer.

Treatment includes daily sessions of physiotherapy, daily medication including antibiotics, vitamin supplements, nebulizers, some have high calorie milkshakes and other medicines. Around 80% of patients have pancreatic insufficiencies so they need help absorbing and digesting all their food with enzymes which need to be taken before any food is eaten. They also need a high calorie, high protein diet to help gain enough weight to keep them healthy and to have a reserve to protect them when they have an infection as they can lose weight very quickly when they are poorly. When they are poorly they often need IV antibiotics to help clear any infection.

Exercise is extremely important for someone with CF to help keep their lung capacity as high as possible and to help keep them fit and healthy. For example, for a child with CF trampolining is a great form of exercise as jumping around helps to shift the mucus in their lungs.

More information about Cystic Fibrosis visit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust or NHS websites.