Letter: Management of children with cystic fibrosis.

Reports of children with cystic fibrosis living well whilst on intensive treatment 
can be covered by allegations that their disease must be basically 
mild. More revealing evidence comes from the longterm survival studies done 
by Professor Warren Warwick, of the University of Minnesota. The introduction 
of antibiotics have allowed the children to live loner, but 3/4 
were dead by aged 10 years. Physiotherapy given after infections prolonged 
lives so that half were still alive at 10 years - 
but still faced a relentless death rate. Prophylactic - daily - 
physiotherapy produced a doubling of survival at 20 years from under 
30% to over 60%. I do not deny for a moment 
that daily physiotherapy with inhalations is a great strain on the 
family, but it is not as great as the strain of 
watching the slow and relentless decline of the child which, with 
racking cough and persistent dyspnoea, is anything but peaceful. 