Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic disease which affects the lungs and digestive system of a patient.
A defective gene causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus. Over time, this damages the lungs and blocks airways making it hard to breathe
The CF gene obstructs the pancreas and stops the natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. This means that with every meal medication needs to be taken to replace natural enzymes.
The application is aimed at children with cystic fibrosis in Ireland between the ages of 12 to 18 and their doctors. The reason this age range has been selected is because intervention during these years can lead to better outcomes for the patient's overall health.
Now a CF patient between the selected age range will only see their team of doctors every three months. The only exception for this is if they are very ill as there is a shortage of suites that can accommodate patients with CF.
I will be measuring lung functionality and also, I will be keeping track of food intake and activity.
The reason lung functionality is being measured each week is to give their doctor a better picture of what has been going on over the three-month period rather than only basing it on their previous appointment three months ago.
Food is another important aspect of a patient suffering from CF as it can be hard for the patient to gain or even maintain weight and in turn this directly affects how active the patient can be.
I will measure the lung functionality by using a spirometer. I will be monitoring food habits by using a tailor-made food diary.