Symptomatic therapy is used, as it is impossible to cure this disease. Treatment is lifelong, aimed at supporting the functions of the affected organs.
The disease, like all chronic diseases, proceeds in waves, with periods of exacerbation and lull (remission). It is desirable that patients apply for a preventive examination regularly, regardless of the severity of the process. Clinical recommendations are constantly updated, new drugs and results of scientific works appear. The doctor, who is in close contact with the patient, always has the opportunity to alleviate his condition.
Nutrition in cystic fibrosis
Food should contain a lot of animal protein – meat, fish, eggs, dairy products (if there is no lactase deficiency). The patient needs a lot of liquid, which needs to be salted.
The main principles that must be followed when choosing a diet for cystic fibrosis:
Cystic fibrosis patients need nutrition, the caloric content of which is 2-2.5 times higher than that of others. Experts note that proper adherence to nutrition recommendations for cystic fibrosis reduces the number of exacerbations of the disease and increases the patient’s life expectancy;
If we are talking about the organization of nutrition for children with cystic fibrosis, it is necessary to introduce into the child’s diet one and a half times more protein than is recommended for this age group, and the percentage of fat should be up to 40% of the total amount of food consumed. At the same time, food products for children with cystic fibrosis must undergo culinary processing, which preserves useful substances. If we are talking about meat and fish dishes, baking is best suited for their preparation. The patient’s diet should contain a sufficient amount of vegetable oils, fresh vegetables and fruits, dairy products, as well as salt, since excessive loss during sweating is typical for patients;
It is very important to supplement your diet with salt, especially during hot weather, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and increased physical activity. Table salt can be used for this, but for babies and children it is better to choose a 10% NaCl solution (1 ml of 10% NaCl = 100 mg of NaCl).
Proper nutrition in cystic fibrosis is impossible without the use of enzyme preparations and nutrients, which act as replacement therapy and reduce the functional load on the liver and pancreas;
When choosing a diet, you should limit the use of products that cause increased gas formation and bloating. This category includes bakery products, legumes, mushrooms, cabbage. These products can be present in the diet, but they should not be abused;
Proper nutrition in cystic fibrosis involves limiting the use of fast carbohydrates, which cause a sharp increase in glucose and lead to impaired insulin production. The patient should avoid eating a large amount of sweets, pastries, chips, carbonated drinks, as well as various semi-finished products that contain various dyes, preservatives and other harmful additives.
Treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases
A mandatory component of therapy is reducing the viscosity of sputum and removing it from the bronchial tree. Physical, chemical and instrumental methods are used for this purpose. Mucolytic therapy is carried out daily throughout the patient’s life. The effectiveness of therapy increases with the simultaneous use of aerosol inhalers, physical therapy, vibration massage of the chest, and postural drainage.
The propensity of patients with cystic fibrosis to inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract necessitates the use of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. The modern method of antibacterial therapy is the use of inhaled forms of antibiotics delivered to the respiratory tract through nebulizers.
An extremely important aspect of treatment is the use of oxygen therapy. Oxygen concentrators are used for long-term oxygen therapy. The need for its use is due to a large number of “disabled” lung areas (pneumosclerosis, emphysema, atelectasis), and therefore, progressive respiratory failure.
Physiotherapy for cystic fibrosis
Physiotherapy is the basis of prevention and the most important element of treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases in cystic fibrosis. The purpose of physiotherapy is to remove the secretion remaining in the respiratory tract. Thanks to this, the patient not only “breathes better” – the mucus remaining in the bronchi is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, and its presence contributes to infections, which means that it contributes to the gradual, irreversible destruction of lung tissue. Therefore, all patients with cystic fibrosis should constantly undergo physiotherapy treatment from the moment of diagnosis, regardless of age, course of the disease and symptoms. Physiotherapy should be continued throughout the patient’s life and considered as a mandatory hygienic procedure. Only systematic and properly conducted procedures will help you stay in good shape for as long as possible.