More than 60% of people living with cystic fibrosis are adults

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder causing problems with breathing and
digestion. It affects almost 40,000 people in the United States, and
more than 60% of them are adults.

That second figure is the one to notice. CF is still described as a childhood
disease, and the majority of people who have it are grown up — a change in the
lifespan, not in the illness.

What goes wrong

People with CF have mucus that is too thick and sticky, which:

• Blocks airways and leads to lung damage
• Traps germs, making infections more likely
• Prevents digestive proteins reaching the intestines, decreasing the
  body's ability to absorb nutrients from food

What comes with it

CF affects many organs, so people with it are more likely to develop other
conditions: diabetes, cirrhosis, arthritis, reflux, hypersplenism (an
overactive spleen), osteoporosis, depression and anxiety.

Read that list against the fact that most people with CF are now adults, and
it describes a chronic multi-organ condition managed across decades — with
mental health on the list as a recognised part of it rather than a
complication of it.

Signs

• Salty-tasting skin
• A cough that does not go away, often with thick mucus or blood
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Frequent lung or sinus infections
• Nasal polyps — growths in the nose

The salty skin is the oldest and most specific sign there is; the folk
observation that a baby who tastes of salt when kissed will not live long
predates any understanding of the gene.

Screening, at two points

• Before or during pregnancy — women who are pregnant or planning a
  pregnancy can be screened to see whether they could have a child with CF.
• At birth — **newborn screening in the United States includes checking
  babies for CF soon after birth.**

Available treatments can improve health outcomes for people with CF —
which is what the adult majority above is made of.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.