Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children
and adults in the United States.
In the Netherlands there are about 1000 people with this disease.
CF causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus,
due to the faulty transport of sodium and chloride (salt) within cells lining organs such
as the lungs and pancreas, to their outer surfaces.
The thick CF mucus also obstructs the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching
the intestines to help break down and digest food.
The sweat test is the standard diagnostic test for cystic
fibrosis.
This simple and painless test measures the amount of salt in the
sweat.
A high salt level indicates that a person has CF.
