One with a milder disease might come in for treatment only a few times a year. Most often, the focus of the therapy is clearing the lungs. Thumping the chest and back with a cupped hand is perhaps the most commonly used method of loosening mucus. Lying on a tilted table, head down, helps the mucus drain. Doctors teach parents of CF babies these techniques so they can use them at home to manage the disease on a daily basis.
Bacteria are a constant threat.
Babies with CF usually get a brace of vaccines against such common bugs as Hib and pneumonia. Even high doses of ibuprofen have proven effective in opening airways. Each baby responds to a different combination of physical and drug therapies, and it's the doctors' and the parents' job to find the right mix. Parents play an important role here by watching how their babies respond to different drugs. Because the disease usually gums up the pancreas, digestion becomes a nagging problem as well.