Access to food and drink
- A high-calorie/high-protein diet in order to gain weight and grow
- Extra food at lunch
- Time to finish lunch
- Frequent opportunities during the day for snacks and drinks
- These may include high-calorie nutrition supplements
- Fluids and salty snacks such as pretzels or potato chips or salt tablets
- Needed before, during, and after physical activity or when the temperature is hot indoors or outside (see section 4).
Digestive Enzymes and Vitamins
- To help with digestion, they may need to take pancreatic enzymes along with meals and snacks.
- They may also need vitamins and other supplements.
- Some schools expect a child to go to the school nurse’s office for medications.
- However, since most children have been taking pancreatic enzymes since infancy, a student may prefer to handle the medication and vitamins on his or her own.
- When the child and parents prefer this approach, it should be supported and encouraged.
- Enabling children to manage certain medications is an important step in building confidence and minimizing feelings of “being different”
Managing Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes (CFRD)
- Children with CFRD will need to monitor their blood sugar.
- They need ongoing access to snacks or drinks to maintain their blood sugar.
- They may also need to take insulin.
Coughing
- CF can cause a lot of coughing, sometimes producing mucus.
- Coughing helps the body to clear the lungs, so it should be encouraged.
- If it is disruptive or embarrassing, the child should be allowed to leave and get a drink of water.
- The child should have tissues nearby.
Restroom Privileges
- Although enzymes help with digestion, children may still experience abdominal pain.
- They may take frequent trips to the bathroom.
- Access to a private bathroom, such as in the nurse’s office, may help prevent embarrassment.
Staying Healthy
In order to reduce exposure to germs, children should wash their hands frequently.
- A cleansing hand gel should be used when soap and water aren’t available.
- Other children who are ill should be encouraged to wash their hands often and use tissues when sneezing, coughing, or blowing their noses.