Pregnancy

5 Ways to Help a Child with Cystic Fibrosis Live a Longer, Healthier Life

Frequent doctor visits

Once a child is given a cystic fibrosis diagnosis, treatment begins immediately. Lung development is one of the most critical aspects of childhood development, and the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients are going to be at incredibly high risk of damage or complications throughout all of childhood. This is why it is critical to receive regular care, and to communicate any and all concerns to doctors as soon as possible.

The standard of care for cystic fibrosis patients is to be seen once a quarter, or four times a year. Some experts believe that this is not frequent enough. Research suggests that across the board, more frequent visits to the doctor’s office results in better patient outcomes. Even if a complication is caught a few days or weeks earlier, the long-term outcome can be significantly improved. For this reason, some care centers prefer to see their cystic fibrosis patients as frequently as once every two months.