Cystic Fibrosis information, advice and facts. Cystic fibrosis (CF), also called mucoviscidosis, is a hereditary disease that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system, causing progressive disability. Formerly known as cystic fibrosis of the pancreas, this entity has increasingly been labeled simply "cystic fibrosis". Difficulty breathing and insufficient enzyme production in the pancreas are the most common symptoms. Thick mucous production as well as a low immune system results in frequent lung infections, which are treated, though not always cured, by oral and intravenous antibiotics and other medications. A multitude of other symptoms, including sinus infections, poor growth, diarrhea, and potential infertility (mostly in males, due to the condition Congenital bilateral absence of the vas Deferens) result from the effects of CF on other parts of the body. Often, symptoms of CF appear in infancy and childhood; these include meconium ileus, failure to thrive, and recurrent lung infections.Find Symptoms diagnosis, treatment and causes.