Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a condition that some people are born with. It mostly affects how the lungs (for breathing) and the tummy (for digesting food) work but can impact other parts of the body too. 

Everyone’s body are made up of genes. People with CF have a gene which causes their body to make very thick and sticky mucus (like extra gooey slime). 

This sticky mucus can: 

• Block the lungs, making it hard to breathe and causing lots of chest infections 

• Block the pancreas (a part of the tummy), so the body has trouble breaking down food and getting the goodness from it 

How CF affects people: 

• It can be different for everyone 

• Some people with CF are more unwell than others 

• Doctors and nurses work together to help people stay as healthy as possible 

Some signs someone with CF might have: 

• Skin that tastes very salty 

• A lot of coughing, sometimes with mucus 

• Frequent chest infections 

• Trouble breathing or feeling out of breath 

• Finding it hard to grow or gain weight, even if they eat well 

• Tummy problems, like difficulty in or unusual poo 

In Ireland, quite a lot of people have CF, but there are special medical teams who help care for them and support them to live as well as they can. �� Cystic Fibrosis Ireland are also here to help people with CF in Ireland.