Hope for cystic fibrosis patients

A breakthrough in simplifying treatment for children with cystic fibrosis and reducing side effects has been made.

Trials showed an intravenous antibiotic used to treat the condition could be administered once a day instead of the usual three times.

It was organised by the University of Nottingham and could mean more patients being able to be treated at home.

Kayleigh Boden, 17, from Lincolnshire, who took part, said it reduced side effects of tinnitus and headaches.

"Good advance"

Miss Boden, from Welton, near Lincoln, has to take medication at midnight as part of the normal three times a day course.

She said: "It's a really good advance as it means now you don't have to have as much treatment and it cuts down a lot of time.

"The drugs usually lead to tinnitus and headaches and my eyes are affected, but I definitely suffered fewer side effects during the trial."

Researchers, who are based at Nottingham City Hospital, looked at the antibiotic tobramycin during the study.

It is used to treat chronic chest infections, often for two weeks or more.

Lung complications

Sometimes intravenous treatment is given at home rather than in hospital, but researchers said administering the treatment puts an extra strain on patients.

More than 7,500 people have the disease in the UK.

The average life expectancy for patients is 31 years and most die from complications of the lung which is the main organ affected.

Chief executive Rosie Barnes said: "It will help relieve what is very time-consuming care and reduce the amount of time spent taking the required dose of antibiotics."

Source: BBC News