cystic

Everyday

1. (medicine) To do with a cyst, a small sac or bubble in the body filled with fluid. tree →
2. (medicine) To do with the bladder or gall bladder. tree →
3. Mostly heard in «cystic fibrosis», an illness people are born with that makes thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and gut. tree →

In the lessons

Children meet this word mainly in «cystic fibrosis» (CF), an inherited illness; children with CF take medicines, do physio to clear their lungs, and must avoid passing germs to each other. In health lessons it is a reminder that some illnesses come from genes and cannot be caught.

Examples

• My cousin has cystic fibrosis and does breathing exercises every day. tree →
• Cystic fibrosis is not catching; you are born with it. tree →
• The doctor said the lump was a cystic swelling, full of fluid. tree →
• Children with cystic fibrosis often need extra salt and food. tree →
• Charities raise money to research cystic fibrosis. tree →

Note

Said «SIS-tik». Adjective only, almost never used alone in everyday talk. «Cyst» is the noun. «Fibrosis» means the growth of too much tough tissue.