12/05/2026
May is Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Awareness Month!
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a progressive genetic disease that affects the lungs, causing persistent lung infections and limiting the ability to breath over time. According to American Lung Association, it is second most common inherited disorder occurring in children in United States. About 70,000 people worldwide live with CF and about 1000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Diagnosing CF is a multistep process and a complete diagnostic clinical evaluation include a newborn screening, a sweat chloride test, a genetic or carrier test.
To have CF, a child must inherit one copy of CFTR gene mutation from each parent. People who have only one copy of CFTR gene mutation do not have CF and they are called as carriers. If both parents are carriers of CFTR gene muation, they have 25% chance of having a child with CF. When one parent is carrier and another parent has CF, they have 50% chance of having a child with CF.
While commonly associated with chronic lung disease and pancreatic involvement, CFTR-related disorders can also significantly impact reproductive health.
Carrier genetic testing not only play a key role in CF diagnosis but testing also allows parents to find out what are their chances of having a child with CF to help inform important decisions on family planning.
Greater awareness, early diagnosis, multidisciplinary care, and access to genetic counselling can help individuals and families make empowered reproductive and healthcare choices.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Trust IHW Council World Health Organization (WHO) Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute Indian Organisation for Rare Diseases EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe Organization For Rare Diseases India Rare Disease Foundation Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Cystic Fibrosis
