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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lifelong condition that requires specialized care to manage its symptoms. The Norton Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Program offers high-quality care for children and young adults with CF.
Our CF multidisciplinary team is committed to providing high-quality, effective, patient-centered care in partnership with the patient, family and community. Our CF program actively participates in clinical research with the overall goal of providing evidence-based therapies and an eventual cure for the disease.
CF is a progressive genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs. To have CF, a child must inherit two abnormal CF genes — one from each parent. In patients with CF, the amount of water and salt in many areas of the body is unbalanced, which results in cellular surfaces being unable to absorb water. This causes thick, sticky mucus to clog tubes, ducts and passageways in many organs.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry, CF affects about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Approximately 1,000 cases are diagnosed each year.
CF Foundation Accreditation
The Norton Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Program is accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a Cystic Fibrosis Care Center, meaning it offers “the best care, treatments and support for those with CF.” Norton Children’s has the only accredited pediatric CF program in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Quality care means we can help our young patients with CF strive to achieve excellent lung function. Our location offers easy access to families from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.
Care Team
Our interdisciplinary team approach to managing this complex disease means your child will benefit from the expertise of pediatric pulmonologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, a dietitian, social worker and pharmacist. Access to other pediatric specialists, such as gastroenterology, endocrinology and otolaryngology, are readily available at the Novak Center for Children’s Health for consultations as needed.
Each patient is offered individualized care with evidence-based therapies guided by the child’s genotype. This team works together to provide a customized, family-centered care plan. As CF affects the whole family, we also help coordinate home health services and other community resources. The multidisciplinary team also provides guidance for children and teens as they transition into adulthood.
The Norton Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Program is a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Development Network, a clinical trials network for CF research. Your child may be able to benefit from access to new and innovative treatments being tested through our extensive clinical research program.