Cystic Fibrosis: The Past, Present, and Future of an Ancient Disease

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has been documented since 1595, but our understanding of the disease has evolved significantly only in recent decades. The purpose of this thesis is to trace the historical progression of CF from early observations of "salty" infants in medieval folklore up to modern observations of the disease, as well as describe the mechanisms and symptoms of CF and discuss current treatments and therapies. The multisystem nature of CF will be discussed, with a heavy focus on manifestations in the respiratory, digestive, and endocrine systems. Finally, advancements in treatments will be highlighted, such as CFTR modulators and multidisciplinary care that have dramatically increased life expectancy from under a year to nearly fifty years.