What to Expect at a Visit

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"Why does my child have a throat culture done at every clinic visit?" Is a question we are often asked. It is an important question with an important answer.

Throat (oropharyngeal) or sputum cultures are obtained at every quarterly clinic visit and more frequently if your child develops respiratory symptoms Some symptoms you may see when a person develops a lung infection include an increase in cough, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath with play and activity, and an increase in sputum production.

In order to provide your child with the best medical care the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation recommends that all CF Centers obtain throat or sputum cultures quarterly. The goal is to identify bacteria in the lungs as early as possible in order to begin treatments that will reduce the risk of lung damage due to infection.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA) is a type of bacteria that is of concern for persons with CF. It causes frequent lung infections, which leads to damage to the lungs. It is usually identified in a throat or sputum culture around age three; however some persons may not have a positive culture for PA until later. Persons that have cultured positive for PA are frequently treated with oral and/or inhaled antibiotics.

At times all of the information you receive can feel overwhelming, however learning new information will lead to better knowledge about CF and assist in enhancing your skills to care for your child. Please feel free to contact the Riley Hospital CF Center with any questions.