Cystic fibrosis is a multi-organ disease, which mainly affects the respiratory and digestive systems. It is due to a genetic mutation that causes the production of excessively thick mucus. This mucus closes the bronchi and leads to repeated respiratory infections, obstructs the pancreas and prevents pancreatic enzymes from reaching the intestine, consequently food cannot be digested and assimilated. Although the degree of involvement also differs greatly from person to person, the persistence of infection and lung inflammation, which causes the progressive deterioration of lung tissue, is the major cause of morbidity in CF patients. Typical manifestations of the disease are:
- difficulty in digesting fats, proteins, starches
- deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins
- progressive loss of lung function.