Adolescence: What the cystic fibrosis team needs to know

Abstract

The treatment of adolescents with CF is important, as adolescence is often when the CF patient's health deteriorates. They are managed by paediatricians then transitioned to adult teams. For the person with CF, adolescence usually constitutes a major chunk of their life span. The treatment is set on a background of dynamic developmental change. This can cause specific difficulties in management, especially related to eating and adherence level. Developing good relationships with young people, seeing things from their side and seeing them alone every time as well as with their families will help. They may have health-related issues to discuss with you and should be asked HEADS questions regularly. The multidisciplinary team is essential when working with young people. With the right approach, working with young people can be very enjoyable and productive to both parties.