Does Your Child Have Cystic Fibrosis and Attend Preschool in Poland?

If your family lives in Poland and your child with cystic fibrosis (CF) attends or is about to attend a preschool in Poland, this page is for you. We know that navigating a new childcare and education system while managing a chronic illness can feel overwhelming — especially when a language barrier adds another layer of complexity. MukoPrzedszkole exists to make this easier: for you, for your child, and for preschool staff who want to help but may not yet know what cystic fibrosis means in everyday preschool life.

What is cystic fibrosis?

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common serious inherited diseases in European populations. In Poland, it is still a rare disease, but children with CF attend nurseries, preschools and schools every year. Data from the Polish newborn screening programme have estimated the frequency of cystic fibrosis at roughly 1 in 4,000–4,500 newborns, although estimates may vary depending on the population and the method used.

CF is caused by disease-causing variants in the CFTR gene. These variants affect the function of the CFTR protein and can lead to thick, sticky mucus in the airways, digestive system and other organs. Symptoms and treatment needs differ from child to child. Some children have pancreatic insufficiency and need pancreatic enzyme capsules with meals or snacks containing fat; others may not need enzymes. Many children need inhaled therapies, airway clearance physiotherapy, nutritional support, regular microbiological monitoring and follow-up at a specialist CF centre. Some children may also be assessed for CFTR modulator therapy, such as Kaftrio, if they meet medical and reimbursement criteria in Poland.

Crucially, cystic fibrosis is not contagious. Your child poses no health risk to other children simply because they have CF. In everyday preschool life, the main concern is sensible infection prevention: common respiratory infections can be harder for a child with CF, so good hand hygiene, responsible illness policies and clear communication with parents are important.

What is MukoPrzedszkole?

MukoPrzedszkole is the Polish name of the project; it combines “muko”, a common Polish shorthand for cystic fibrosis, and “przedszkole”, meaning preschool. It is a nationwide educational campaign run by the Oddech Życia Foundation (Breath of Life Foundation), based in Kraków, Poland. The project provides free resources, training materials and direct educational support to preschools caring for children with cystic fibrosis.

The project website — mukoprzedszkole.pl — is a dedicated Polish-language resource about cystic fibrosis in the preschool context. It contains in-depth articles covering many aspects of CF care in a preschool setting: from pancreatic enzyme support and meals, to talking with children about a classmate's cough, from hygiene protocols and cross-infection precautions, to the emotional wellbeing of teachers and families.

What you'll find on MukoPrzedszkole.pl

Knowledge base. Comprehensive articles explaining CF for preschool staff: what it is, how it may appear in daily preschool life, why it is not contagious, how pancreatic enzyme support may be organised when needed, what to consider during meals, what hygiene rules matter, when parents should be contacted and how to prepare simple emergency procedures. The materials are written in accessible, non-medical language — designed for teachers and directors, not for doctors.

Practical guides. Step-by-step instructions for the first conversation with a CF family, checklists for preschool readiness, communication templates, and an Individual Health Care Plan (IPOZ) template that collects essential information in one document. IPOZ is an internal MukoPrzedszkole tool that helps parents and preschool staff agree on daily support, responsibilities, contacts and procedures.

Psychological and social articles. How to talk to the group about illness without disclosing private medical information unnecessarily, how to prevent stigma and bullying, how to support the child's emotional wellbeing, how to work with parents of other children who may have questions, and how teachers can manage their own uncertainty or fear.

Multilingual materials. Polish-English, Polish-Ukrainian, Polish-Russian, Polish-Spanish and Polish-German dictionaries with CF terminology and everyday preschool phrases — designed to bridge the language gap between non-Polish-speaking families and preschool staff.

Lesson plans. Ready-to-use activity scenarios for preschool groups, covering topics such as hand hygiene, accepting differences, understanding that every child may need something different, normalising cough without stigma, and supporting absent classmates with drawings or messages.

Mukobox. A free educational kit that can be ordered for a preschool in Poland — containing educational materials for staff and children, such as a printed guidebook, hygiene posters, quick-reference cards and multimedia resources. The kit is free for families and preschools, including shipping within Poland.

How we can help you

If your child with CF attends a preschool in Poland, the Oddech Życia Foundation can support you in several concrete ways.

We can send a free Mukobox to your child's preschool — a package of educational materials that helps the director and teachers understand CF and prepare safer, more informed daily care. You can order it through the website, and the package will be sent directly to the preschool after the order is processed.

We can consult with the preschool directly — answering general educational and organisational questions about CF in preschool life, such as enzyme support, hygiene, meals, communication with parents, privacy, group activities and what to do when symptoms raise concern. We do not replace your child's doctor or CF team, but we can help preschool staff understand the practical meaning of medical recommendations.

We can help you find the right Polish CF pathway — if your child is not yet under the care of a Polish cystic fibrosis treatment centre, we can help you understand where to ask for specialist care and which documents may be useful. Poland has specialised CF centres and hospital teams in several regions. A specialist team can assess whether your child meets the medical and reimbursement criteria for CFTR modulator therapy, such as Kaftrio, and other treatments available in Poland.

We can provide materials in English — including a Polish-English dictionary of CF and preschool terms, a guide for the first meeting with preschool staff, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Before your first meeting with the preschool

A good first meeting can prevent many misunderstandings. In Poland, preschools are educational and care institutions, not medical centres. This means that daily health-related support should be clearly agreed between the parents or legal guardians and the preschool director, usually with written information from the child's doctor or CF centre.

Before the meeting, it is useful to prepare:

• a short medical summary or information from the CF centre, if available;
• the child's current treatment plan relevant to preschool hours;
• clear instructions on pancreatic enzymes, if your child needs them;
• information about meals, snacks, hydration and salt supplementation, if relevant;
• symptoms that should prompt staff to contact parents immediately;
• emergency contact numbers for parents or legal guardians;
• contact details of the child's CF centre or doctor, if the parents agree to share them;
• a completed or draft Individual Health Care Plan (IPOZ), if you use the MukoPrzedszkole template.

The preschool does not need to know every medical detail. It does need to know what support the child needs during meals, what symptoms should not be ignored, what infection-prevention rules are important, how to protect the child's privacy and whom to contact when something is unclear.

Pancreatic enzymes and daily support

Many, but not all, children with CF need pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. If your child takes enzymes, the preschool should know when they are needed, how they are given, what dose has been recommended and what to do if the child refuses a meal, eats less than expected or wants an additional snack. These rules should be written down in a simple way and updated whenever the medical plan changes.

In Poland, giving medicines or performing other health-related support during the child's stay in an educational institution should be agreed in advance. Parents should provide clear written information and authorisation. The staff member who supports the child should be properly informed and should agree to perform the agreed task according to the preschool's internal procedures. The preschool director should know who is responsible for each step.

Privacy and talking to the group

Your child's diagnosis is private health information. It should not be shared with other parents or children without your knowledge and agreement. At the same time, preschool staff may need to explain some everyday situations to the group in a simple, non-stigmatising way — for example, that different children may need different things, that coughing is not a reason to exclude someone, or that hand hygiene helps protect everyone.

MukoPrzedszkole materials help teachers talk about empathy, hygiene, differences and helping others without turning one child into “the sick child” of the group. The aim is to keep your child safe while also protecting their dignity, privacy and social relationships.

Cross-infection and more than one child with CF

If there is another child with cystic fibrosis in the same preschool, this should be discussed carefully with both families and, when needed, with the children's CF teams. People with CF may carry bacteria that are more relevant to other people with CF than to the general population. This does not mean that a child with CF should be isolated from preschool life. It does mean that the preschool should have a clear plan for activities, rooms, hygiene, respiratory symptoms and communication with parents.

The plan should be practical and proportionate. It should avoid stigma, protect privacy and follow the recommendations of the child's medical team.

Your child's rights in Poland

Children with chronic illnesses, including cystic fibrosis, have the right to participate in mainstream preschool education in Poland. CF should not be treated as a reason to exclude a child from preschool life. In practice, admission to a specific public preschool follows local recruitment rules, available places and the general rules of the Polish education system. Once a child attends preschool, daily care should be arranged according to the child's health needs, the preschool's responsibilities and written agreements between the parents or legal guardians and the preschool director.

If you experience resistance, misunderstanding or uncertainty from a preschool, contact us. We can help you understand possible next steps, prepare for a conversation with the director and indicate institutions or legal support options that may be appropriate in your situation.

Healthcare access and PESEL UKR

If your family is in Poland under temporary protection, including PESEL UKR, please check the current healthcare rules before assuming full access to every service. Since 5 March 2026, the rules for access to publicly funded healthcare in Poland for people covered by earlier special arrangements have changed. Children may still have access to certain publicly funded healthcare and reimbursed medicines, but the exact scope can depend on the child's age, legal status, insurance status, documents and current NFZ rules.

If your child has CF and you are unsure where to start, we can help you understand which institution to contact first: a primary care doctor, a specialist outpatient clinic, a hospital CF centre, NFZ or another public office. We cannot guarantee eligibility for a specific medicine or programme, but we can help you ask the right questions and prepare the right documents.

Key pages on MukoPrzedszkole.pl

While the website is in Polish, the following pages may be particularly useful. You can use your browser's built-in translation feature to read them in English, or contact us for direct assistance.

mukoprzedszkole.pl — main page with an overview of the project and quick access to all resources.

mukoprzedszkole.pl/zamow-mukobox.html — order a free Mukobox educational kit for your child's preschool.

mukoprzedszkole.pl/kontakt.html — contact the Oddech Życia Foundation for direct support.