Cystic Fibrosis: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate cystic fibrosis (CF):

Leading symptoms

  • Chronic bronchitis with productive cough (sputum).
  • Chronic sinusitis (sinusitis) and nasal polyps (mucosal protrusions).
  • Recurrent (reoccurring) infections of the respiratory tract.
  • Failure to thrive
  • Meconium ileus (intestinal obstruction in newborns) or lack of meconium clearance within the first 48 hours of life – very early symptom of CF.
    • Approximately 75% of newborns with ileus due to viscous meconium that cannot be weaned have CF.
  • Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS) – corresponds to meconium ileus in the newborn.
  • Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency – inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient digestive secretions; associated with maldigestion (Latin: “poor digestion”).
  • Rectal prolapse (rectal prolapse).
  • Cholestasis (bile stasis)
  • Icterus prolongatus (= jaundice (jaundice) > 14 days persisting).
  • High salt content of the skin, as well as salt losses through the skin during fever or heat (42% of mothers have, according to one study noted the salt taste of the skin (by kissing)* .
  • Steatorrhea (fat diarrhea).

* Average chloride content in the sweat of CF babies was just under 92 mmol/l, i.e. about nine times the concentration in healthy children (= salinity of sea water).

In about 7% of affected individuals, the first symptoms do not appear until after adolescence.