Cystic fibrosis symptoms can appear at any age, but are usually diagnosed in childhood. Excess salt in sweat, digestive problems, and breathing difficulties are common symptoms, with a sweat test used for diagnosis. Thick mucus can cause poor growth, constipation, and lung infections.
Signs of cystic fibrosis can show anywhere from infancy to adulthood, but this condition is usually diagnosed before the end of childhood. One of the most common symptoms of cystic fibrosis in children is excess salt in their sweat, as their abnormal sweat glands secrete this mineral more easily than in most people. There are also many digestive problems that occur, such as bloating caused by constipation and the resulting lack of adequate weight gain over time. Also, many children suffer from breathing problems, including constant wheezing and coughing due to abnormally thick mucus in the body.
Radically elevated levels of salt in the body are one of the most obvious symptoms of cystic fibrosis in children, which tends to occur in excess of certain bodily fluids, such as sweat and tears. This is because the sweat glands don’t function normally in patients with this condition. Therefore, parents may notice that their baby’s skin is unusually salty. In fact, one of the most common ways to diagnose cystic fibrosis in children is a sweat test, in which doctors look for elevated levels of salt in this bodily fluid.
Another important sign of cystic fibrosis is the presence of digestive problems, as this disease tends to result in thicker mucus than usual, eventually blocking the path of digestive enzymes. When these enzymes cannot travel from the pancreas to the small intestine, most nutrients are not absorbed properly by the body. The result is poor growth and slow weight gain. Constipation eventually occurs, causing bloating and abdominal pain, and the stools produced are usually greasy and particularly foul-smelling. Also, it should be noted that pancreatitis is not uncommon due to the thick mucus that coats the pancreas.
Breathing problems are also often indicative of cystic fibrosis in babies, as thick mucus tends to block the airways. Therefore, many children with this condition experience a constant cough that produces very little, if any, as the mucus is too thick to cough. That means it stays in the lungs, where it can attract bacteria and lead to recurring and dangerous lung infections. Constant sinus infections are also common symptoms of cystic fibrosis in children. In fact, the nasal passages are often so congested that the nose can develop polyps, or sacs filled with tissue and fluid, causing pain and difficulty breathing.
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