Cystic fibrosis: a not-so-fatal disease.

Cystic fibrosis is an intricate, vexatious disease involving the whole patient. As 
yet we are only able to treat the signs and symptoms, 
and this should be done as completely as possible. Treatment is 
geared at eradicating the Staphylococcus aureus from the lung and preventing 
reinfection. Gram-negative organisms, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are treated when they become 
pathogenic. Other conditions such as atopia of the respiratory tract or 
gastrointestinal system may be detrimental to the patient's cystic fibrosis condition 
and must be controlled. Pancreatic insufficiency requires adequate enzyme replacement therapy 
to prevent steatorrhea and azotorrhea. If fatty acids play a role 
in membrane oxygen transport then their abnormal composition in cystic fibrosis 
may require specific changes in the type of fat intake. Salt 
depletion should be looked for and corrected. A screening test for 
cystic fibrosis is needed, preferably one done on a small blood 
specimen. 