Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis

“Woe to that child which when kissed on the forehead tastes salty. He is bewitched and
soon must die.” This adage from northern European folklore is an early reference to the common
genetic disease recognized today as CF (Cystic Fibrosis). As the saying implies, the disorder once
routinely killed children in infancy and is often identifiable by excessive salt in sweat (Kennedy
Plourde, “History of CF”). This paper was written to inform people of the history and symptoms
of this disease, cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis is a generalized disorder that affects the mucus-secreting glands of the
body as well as the external secreting (eccrine) sweat glands, with the production of lesions in
various organs, especially the lungs, liver, and pancreas. “It is primarily a disease of infants and
children, with males and females affected in equal numbers.” Because of improvements in medical
treatment, many patients survive into their 20’s ...