Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis

Contents

Cystic Fibrosis: Introduction
Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis (Introduction)
Treatment list for Cystic Fibrosis
Alternative Treatments
Latest treatments for Cystic Fibrosis
Discussion of treatments for Cystic Fibrosis
Buy Products Related to Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis: Introduction

Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis:

Cystic fibrosis is not curable and is eventually fatal. However early diagnosis and consistent compliance with a good treatment program can help to reduce symptoms and complications and can extend life.

There is no way to prevent cystic fibrosis. Good treatments plans for cystic fibrosis include a multifaceted approach that is tailored to the individual case and specific symptoms, the presence of coexisting diseases and complications, the age and medical history of the patient, and other factors.

Treatment involves ongoing regular medical care and monitoring. The goals of treatment are to keep the airways open, minimize symptoms, such as shortness of breath and frequent cough and reduce the development of complications such as frequent lung infections. Treatment also involves treating complications when they occur.

Cystic fibrosis can be treated with a variety of medications, depending on the specific symptoms the body systems that are affected. Medications can include antibiotics to treat bacterial pneumonia and other bacterial lung infections. Medications are also used to help keep the airways clear. These include theophylline, steroid inhalers, mucus-thinning drugs and bronchodilators.

Bronchodilators and corticosteroids are inhaled into the lungs using a device called an inhaler. Bronchodilators help to relax and open up the lower airways in the lungs and steroid inhalers reduce airway inflammation.

Moderate to severe cystic fibrosis, which results in low levels of oxygen in your blood, may also be treated with oxygen therapy, in which extra oxygen is administered through nasal prongs or a mask.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is another form of treatment. It can involve a medically supervised exercise program, drinking lots of fluids, and chest physical therapy, which physically helps to loosen and remove mucus in the lungs.

If the digestive system is involved, enzymes can be taken with food to help with digestion. In some cases liver and/or lung transplants can help to extend life.

It is also vital to prevent common diseases that can seriously complicate cystic fibrosis and become life threatening. These include pneumonia, which may be prevented with vaccines and treated with antibiotics.

Treatment List for Cystic Fibrosis

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Cystic Fibrosis includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Respiratory treatments - for treating the lung and respiratory tract problems:
- Voluntary coughing
- Respiratory therapy - daily chest and back percussion
- Percussion treatments
- Flutter device
- Postural drainage - body positioning to drain lung secretions.
- Inhaled saline
- Inhaled distilled water
- Humidifiers
- Mist tent
- Bronchodilators
- Antibiotics - to fight respiratory infections
- Aerosol DNase - dilutes airway mucus
- Aerosol antibiotic tobramycin - treats Pseudomonas infections
- Ciprofloxacin - an anti-Pseudomonas antibiotic
- Ibuprofen - reduces lung inflammation
- Prompt treatment of any respiratory infection
- Antibiotics - for any respiratory infection
Digestive treatments - for the various digestive disorders:
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy
- Diet changes
- Low-fat diet
- High-protein diet
- Vitamin supplements
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Enemas
- Mucolytic agents
Lung transplants - may allow long-term survival of the patient since the transplanted lung does not have CF.
- Live donor lung transplant - multiple live donors donate a part of a lung which is used to rebuild the patient's lung.
- Double lung transplant
Copper - possibly used for related copper deficiency
Vitamin A - to prevent vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin E - possibly used for treatment of related Vitamin E deficiency
Sodium - possibly used for treatment of related sodium deficiency
Aerosolized medication
Bilevel positive airway pressure
Tracheostomy
Lung transplantation
Gene therapy

Alternative Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis

Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Cystic Fibrosis may include:

Himalayan crystal salt
more treatments »

Cystic Fibrosis: Is the Diagnosis Correct?

The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Cystic Fibrosis may include:

Hidden causes of Cystic Fibrosis may be incorrectly diagnosed:

Genetic mutation. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common life-shortening genetic diseases
more causes...»

Cystic Fibrosis: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Cystic Fibrosis:

Curable Types of Cystic Fibrosis

Possibly curable types of Cystic Fibrosis may include:

Pneumothorax related to cystic fibrosis
Nasal polps related to cystic fibrosis
Chronic sinusitis related to cystic fibrosis
more curable types...»

Cystic Fibrosis: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Drugs and Medications used to treat Cystic Fibrosis:

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.

Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis include:

Dornase Alpha
Pulmozyme
Acetylcysteine
Acetadote
Mucomyst
Parvolex
ACC
Dornase alfa
Fusidic Acid
Fucidin

Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Cystic Fibrosis:

Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Cystic Fibrosis include:

Cipro XR
Ciprol XL
Cimogal
Ciprobiotic
Ciproflox
Ciprofur
Ciproxina
Eni
Kenzoflex
Microrgan
Mitroken
Nivoflox
Novoquin
Opthaflox
Quinoflox
Sophixin
Suiflox
Zipra

Latest treatments for Cystic Fibrosis:

The following are some of the latest treatments for Cystic Fibrosis:

Hospital statistics for Cystic Fibrosis:

These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Cystic Fibrosis:

0.07% (9,211) of hospital consultant episodes were for cystic fibrosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
96% of hospital consultant episodes for cystic fibrosis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
49% of hospital consultant episodes for cystic fibrosis were men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
51% of hospital consultant episodes for cystic fibrosis were women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
more hospital information...»

Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Cystic Fibrosis

Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Cystic Fibrosis:

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings »

Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Cystic Fibrosis, on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:

Discussion of treatments for Cystic Fibrosis:

In the meantime, the best that doctors can do is to ease the symptoms of CF or slow the progress of the disease so the patient's quality of life is improved. This is achieved by antibiotic therapy combined with treatments to clear the thick mucus from the lungs. The therapy is tailored to the needs of each patient. For patients whose disease is very advanced, lung transplantation may be an option.

CF was once always fatal in childhood. Better treatment methods developed over the past 20 years have increased the average lifespan of CF patients to nearly 30 years. These treatment approaches are detailed more fully below:

Management of lung problems

A major focus of CF treatment is the obstructed breathing that causes frequent lung infections. Physical therapy, exercise, and medications are used to reduce the mucus blockage of the lung's airways.

Chest therapy consists of bronchial, or postural, drainage, which is done by placing the patient in a position that allows drainage of the mucus from the lungs. At the same time, the chest or back is clapped (percussed) and vibrated to dislodge the mucus and help it move out of the airways. This process is repeated over different parts of the chest and back to loosen the mucus in different areas of each lung. This procedure has to be done for children by family members but older patients can learn to do it by themselves. Mechanical aids that help chest physical therapy are available commercially. Exercise also helps to loosen the mucus, stimulate coughing to clear the mucus, and improve the patient's overall physical condition.

Medications used to help breathing are often aerosolized (misted) and can be inhaled. These medicines include bronchodilators (which widen the breathing tubes), mucolytics (which thin the mucus), and decongestants (which reduce swelling of the membranes of the breathing tubes). A recent advance, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is an inhaled aerosolized enzyme that thins the mucus by digesting the cellular material trapped in it. Antibiotics to fight lung infections also are used and may be taken orally or in aerosol form, or by injection into a vein.
Management of digestive problems

The digestive problems in CF are less serious and more easily managed than those in the lungs. A well-balanced, high-caloric diet, low in fat and high in protein, and pancreatic enzymes (which help digestion) are often prescribed. Supplements of vitamins A, D, E, and K are given to ensure good nutrition. Enemas and mucolytic agents are used to treat intestinal obstructions.

(Source: excerpt from NHLBI, Facts About Cystic Fibrosis: NHLBI)