[Coping with illness in families of children with mucoviscidosis]

Utilizing a literature survey we reviewed dates of the intellectual and psychosocial developmental milestones of children suffering from mucoviscidosis. We analyzed the intellectual abilities and social behavior of these children in school as well as their position in the family. The sickness of the child leads to considerable difficulties in intrafamilial communication. The way the patient, the siblings and the parents cope with the sickness is reviewed. We find a changing in self-image of the child as well as changing in self-confidence of the parents, who often react with depression and withdrawal.