Having CF

Doctors diagnose most children with CF by the time they are 3 years old, but if someone has a milder form of the disease, it may not be diagnosed until a person reaches his or her teen years.

Babies are usually tested if they are born with an intestinal blockage called meconium ileus , which is more common in CF infants.

What are the symptoms of cystic fibrosis?
The following are the most common symptoms for cystic fibrosis. However, individuals may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• abnormalities in the glands that produce sweat and mucus
  This may cause a loss of salt. A loss of salt may cause an upset in the balance of minerals in the blood, abnormal heart rhythms, and, possibly, shock.
• thick mucus that accumulates in the lungs and intestines
  This may cause malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infections, breathing difficulties, and/or lung disease.
• other medical problems, such as:
• sinusitis
• nasal polyps
• clubbing of fingers and toes - a condition marked by the ends of the fingers and toes become enlarged; more prevalent in the fingers.
• pneumothorax - the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity causing the lung to collapse.
• hemoptysis - coughing blood.
• cor pulmonale - enlargement of right side of heart.
• abdominal pain
• gas in the intestines
• rectal prolapse
• liver disease
• diabetes
• pancreatitis
• gallstones

As stated above, the symptoms of CF differ for each person. Infants born with CF usually show symptoms within the first year. Some children, though, may not show symptoms until later in life. The following signs are suspicious of CF, and infants having these signs may be tested for CF:

• diarrhea that does not go away
• foul-smelling stools
• greasy stools
• frequent episodes of wheezing
• frequent episodes of pneumonia
• persistent cough
• skin tastes like salt
• poor growth

The symptoms of cystic fibrosis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for a diagnosis.