What is CF?

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Flu Update from our CF Center Director

What is CF?

Diagnosis of CF

Newborn Screening

What to Expect at a Visit

Inpatient Admission

Respiratory Care

Infection Control

Nutrition Care

Medications

What to do When You're Sick

Insurance/Reimbursement

Research

Quality Initiative

School/Daycare Information on CF

Transition to Adult Care

Upcoming Events/Educational Opportunities

Photos

Michelle Howenstine
Center Director

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to serious lung infections. The thick and sticky mucus also affects the digestive tract and can lead to problems with nutrition and growth.

What is the Incidence of CF?

CF occurs in approximately one in every 3500 live births. About 1000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year. Approximately 10 million Americans do not have the disease, but are unknowing, symptomless carriers of the gene for CF.

How do people get CF?

CF is a genetic disease. To have CF, a person must inherit two copies of the gene for CF; one copy from each parent. When both parents are a carrier of the gene for CF, there is a 25% chance with each pregnancy that the child will have CF; a 50% chance with each pregnancy the child will be a carrier of the gene for CF but not have the disease, and a 25% chance with each pregnancy that the child will neither have CF nor be a carrier of the gene for CF.

How does someone get the best care if they have CF?

There are more than 115 CF Foundation-accredited care centers in the United States that specialize in the diagnosis of CF and provide care to people with CF. The staff at these specialized CF care centers includes physicians, nurses, dietitians, respiratory therapists, social workers, genetic counselors, and other medical professionals who specialize in treating the disease.

The Riley CF Center is the only Cystic Fibrosis Foundation accredited Cystic Fibrosis center in the state of Indiana. Our center provides state of the art CF care at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and across the state. The Riley team provides care and guidance to two Affiliate Centers (Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne and St. Joseph's in South Bend) and one Outreach Clinic (Deaconess Hospital in Evansville).