What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited life-threatening condition. It affects many organs in the body, in particular the lungs and digestive tract. Normally cells in the body make secretions and mucus, but in cystic fibrosis these cells do not work properly and the secretions and mucus are much thicker than they should be. This thick, sticky mucus then causes blockages in the lungs and digestive tract making it difficult to breathe and digest food properly.
Just under 300 children are born in the UK with CF every year. It occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 children. All newborn babies born in the UK are screened for CF shortly after birth as part of a blood test known as the Guthrie test or 'heel prick' test.
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