Cystic Fibrosis

Symptoms

The symptoms of cystic fibrosis usually appear within the first year of life, but sometimes may not appear until late childhood or adolescence. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Some people have severe symptoms involving various organs in the body. Others have much milder disease involving only one area of the body.

At birth, a child with cystic fibrosis can develop a swollen belly and vomiting due to a condition called meconium ileus, in which the bowel is plugged up with meconium, a thick, dark, sticky substance produced by the intestines of all babies while still in the uterus. It’s just more sticky in a newborn with cystic fibrosis.

As the child grows, other symptoms can develop, including:

• Poor weight gain in spite of a good appetite, usually because of problems with digestion and absorption of food, especially poor absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K)

• Large, foul-smelling, fat-filled, "greasy" stools

• Frequent episodes of diarrhea

• A swollen belly with abdominal gas and discomfort

• Repeated lung infections, leading to poor lung function

• Repeated sinus infections

• Wheezing and shortness of breath

• Chronic cough, which can produce heavy, discolored mucus or blood

• A salty "frosting" on the skin, or a salty taste when kissed

• Delayed sexual development