Cystic fibrosis on the African continent

Our awareness necessity of cystic fibrosis (CF) significantly predates our ability to comprehend the molecular factors that underpin its cause and affect prognosis. The dire warning “Woe to that child which when kissed on the forehead tastes salty. He is bewitched and soon must die” has been circulating since the 1800s. CF patients taste salty when kissed because an elevated level of sweat chloride is a hallmark of the disease. If untreated, they rarely make it past their first birthday. Typical presentation also includes failure to thrive caused by pancreatic insufficiency and chronic recurrent chest infections.