Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Cystic Fibrosis includes the 77
symptoms listed below:
Research symptoms & diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis:
Cystic Fibrosis: Complications
Review medical complications possibly associated with Cystic Fibrosis:
Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms: Book Excerpts
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing of medical conditions related to Cystic Fibrosis:
Research More About Cystic Fibrosis
Do I have Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic Fibrosis: Medical Mistakes
Cystic Fibrosis: Undiagnosed Conditions
Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical tests related to Cystic Fibrosis:
Wrongly Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Cystic Fibrosis includes:
See the full list of 42
alternative diagnoses for Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
More about symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis:
More information about symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Medical Books Online about Cystic Fibrosis
Medical Books Excerpts
Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Cystic Fibrosis
are available from published medical books
for more detailed information about Cystic Fibrosis.
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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Patient Surveys for Cystic Fibrosis
Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis.
Pancreatitis:
Signs and Symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Epigastric pain close to umbilicus, vomiting, abdominal rigidity, decreased bowel activity, mottled skin, low-grade fever, crackles in lung bases, left pleural effusion, malaise
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Cystic fibrosis:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The clinical effects of cystic fibrosis may become apparent soon after birth or may take years to develop. They include major aberrations in sweat gland, respiratory, and GI function. Sweat gland dysfunction is the most consistent abnormality. Increased concentrations of sodium and chloride in the sweat lead to hyponatremia and hypochloremia and can eventually induce fatal shock and arrhythmias, especially in hot weather.
Respiratory symptoms reflect obstructive changes in the lungs: wheezy respirations; a dry, nonproductive paroxysmal cough; dyspnea; and tachypnea. These changes stem from thick, tenacious secretions in the bronchioles and alveoli and eventually lead to severe atelectasis and emphysema. Children with cystic fibrosis display a barrel chest, cyanosis, and clubbing of the fingers and toes. They suffer recurring bronchitis and pneumonia as well as associated nasal polyps and sinusitis. Death typically results from pneumonia, emphysema, or atelectasis.
The GI effects of cystic fibrosis occur mainly in the intestines, pancreas, and liver. One early symptom is meconium ileus; the neonate with cystic fibrosis doesn't excrete meconium, a dark green mucilaginous material found in the intestine at birth. He develops symptoms of intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal distention, vomiting, constipation, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance. As the child gets older, obstruction of the pancreatic ducts and resulting deficiency of trypsin, amylase, and lipase prevent the conversion and absorption of fat and protein in the GI tract. The undigested food is then excreted in frequent, bulky, foul-smelling, pale stools with a high fat content. This malabsorption induces poor weight gain, poor growth, ravenous appetite, distended abdomen, thin extremities, and sallow skin with poor turgor. The inability to absorb fats results in a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), leading to clotting problems, retarded bone growth, and delayed sexual development. Males may experience azoospermia and sterility; females may experience secondary amenorrhea but can reproduce. A common complication in infants and children is rectal prolapse secondary to malnutrition and wasting of perirectal supporting tissues.
In the pancreas, fibrotic tissue, multiple cysts, thick mucus, and eventually fat replace the acini (small, saclike swellings normally found in this gland), producing symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency: insufficient insulin production, abnormal glucose tolerance, and glycosuria. About 15% of patients have adequate pancreatic exocrine function for normal digestion and, therefore, have a better prognosis. Biliary obstruction and fibrosis may prolong neonatal jaundice. In some patients, cirrhosis and portal hypertension may lead to esophageal varices, episodes of hematemesis and, occasionally, hepatomegaly.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Pancreatic cancer:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The most common features of pancreatic cancer are weight loss, abdominal or low back pain, jaundice, and diarrhea. Other generalized effects include fever, skin lesions (usually on the legs), and fatigue. (See Types of pancreatic cancer, page 88.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Cirrhosis and fibrosis:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Clinical manifestations of cirrhosis and fibrosis are similar for all types, regardless of the cause. Early indications are vague, but usually include GI signs and symptoms (anorexia, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea) and a dull abdominal ache. Major and late signs and symptoms develop as a result of hepatic insufficiency and portal hypertension:
❑ Respiratory — pleural effusion and limited thoracic expansion due to abdominal ascites, interfering with efficient gas exchange and leading to hypoxia
❑ Central nervous system — progressive signs or symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy — lethargy, mental changes, slurred speech, asterixis (flapping tremor), peripheral neuritis, paranoia, hallucinations, extreme obtundation, and coma
❑ Hematologic — bleeding tendencies (nosebleeds, easy bruising, and bleeding gums) and anemia
❑ Endocrine — testicular atrophy, menstrual irregularities, gynecomastia, and loss of chest and axillary hair
❑ Skin — severe pruritus, extreme dryness, poor tissue turgor, abnormal pigmentation, spider angiomas, palmar erythema, and possibly jaundice
❑ Hepatic — jaundice, hepatomegaly, ascites, edema of the legs, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatorenal syndrome comprise the other major effects of full-fledged cirrhosis
❑ Miscellaneous — musty breath, enlarged superficial abdominal veins, muscle atrophy, pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant that worsens when the patient sits up or leans forward, palpable liver or spleen, and temperature of 101° to 103° F (38.3° to 39.4° C). Bleeding from esophageal varices results from portal hypertension.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Pancreatitis:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
In many patients, the first and only symptom of mild pancreatitis is steady epigastric pain centered close to the umbilicus. Examination of the abdomen reveals muscle guarding or tenderness. If there’s seepage of bloody exudate from the pancreas, periumbilical bruising (Cullen’s sign) and bruising of the flanks (Turner’s syndrome) may occur. The pain usually begins as a gradually increasing midepigastric pain reaching its maximum intensity several hours after the beginning of the illness. With pancreatitis resulting from alcohol ingestion, the pain begins 12 to 48 hours after an episode of binge drinking. Nausea and vomiting commonly accompany the abdominal pain. However, a severe attack causes extreme pain, persistent vomiting, abdominal rigidity, diminished bowel activity (suggesting peritonitis), right or left pleural effusion, or elevation of the left half of the diaphragm.
Severe pancreatitis may produce extreme malaise and restlessness, mottled skin, tachycardia, and diaphoresis. Hypotension, hypovolemia, hypoperfusion, sepsis, and shock may ensue. Pulmonary complications, secondary pancreatic infections (such as pancreatic abscess or infected pancreatic necrosis) and, later, pancreatic pseudocyst may also occur. The proximity of the inflamed pancreas to the bowel may cause ileus. Renal failure may occur because of severe hypovolemia.
If pancreatitis damages the islets of Langerhans, complications may include diabetes mellitus and enzyme deficiency. (See Chronic pancreatitis, page 602.)
Fulminant pancreatitis causes massive hemorrhage and total destruction of the pancreas, resulting in diabetic acidosis, shock, or coma.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Cystic fibrosis:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
The clinical effects of cystic fibrosis may become apparent soon after birth or may take years to develop. They include major aberrations in sweat gland, respiratory, and GI functions.
Sweat gland dysfunction
In cystic fibrosis, sweat gland dysfunction is the most consistent abnormality. Increased concentrations of sodium and chloride in the sweat lead to hyponatremia and hypochloremia and can eventually induce fatal shock and arrhythmias, especially in hot weather.
Respiratory symptoms
Such symptoms reflect obstructive changes in the lungs: wheezy respirations; a dry, nonproductive, paroxysmal cough; dyspnea; and tachypnea. These changes stem from thick, tenacious secretions in the bronchioles and alveoli and eventually lead to severe atelectasis and emphysema.
Children with cystic fibrosis display a barrel chest, cyanosis, and clubbing of the fingers and toes. They suffer recurring bronchitis and pneumonia and associated nasal polyps and sinusitis. Death typically results from pneumonia, emphysema, or atelectasis.
GI symptoms
The GI effects of cystic fibrosis occur mainly in the intestines, pancreas, and liver. One early symptom is meconium ileus; the newborn with cystic fibrosis doesn’t excrete meconium, a dark green mucilaginous material found in the intestine at birth. He develops symptoms of intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal distention, vomiting, constipation, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance.
Eventually, obstruction of the pancreatic ducts and resulting deficiency of trypsin, amylase, and lipase prevent the conversion and absorption of fat and protein in the intestinal tract. The undigested food is then excreted in frequent, bulky, foul-smelling, and pale stool with a high fat content.
This malabsorption induces poor weight gain, poor growth, ravenous appetite, distended abdomen, thin extremities, and sallow skin with poor turgor. The inability to absorb fats produces deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), leading to clotting problems, retarded bone growth, and delayed sexual development. Males have been found to have congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, causing sterility; females may experience secondary amenorrhea but can reproduce.
A common complication in infants and children is rectal prolapse. This stems from malnutrition and wasting of perirectal supporting tissues.
In the pancreas, fibrotic tissue, multiple cysts, thick mucus and, eventually, fat replace the acini (small saclike swellings normally found in this gland). This results in signs of pancreatic insufficiency: insufficient insulin production, abnormal glucose tolerance, and glycosuria.
About 15% of patients are pancreatic sufficient, having adequate pancreatic exocrine function for normal digestion. These patients have a better prognosis.
Biliary obstruction and fibrosis may prolong neonatal jaundice. In some patients, cirrhosis and portal hypertension may lead to esophageal varices, episodes of hematemesis and, occasionally, hepatomegaly.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Pancreatic cancer:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
The most common features of pancreatic cancer are weight loss, anorexia, abdominal or low back pain, jaundice, diarrhea, steatorrhea, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, and bleeding tendencies. If the islets of Langerhans are affected, signs and symptoms of diabetes may be present. (See Types of pancreatic cancer, page 598.)
Other signs and symptoms include fever, skin lesions (usually on the legs), and emotional disturbances, such as depression, anxiety, and premonition of fatal illness.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis:
Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology (Excerpt)
It causes the body to produce a thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, leading to infection, and blocks the pancreas, stopping digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines where they are required to digest food.
(Source: Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology)
Cystic Fibrosis Research Directions: NIDDK (Excerpt)
The most characteristic symptom of CF is the excessive production of
thick, sticky mucus in the airways. Several factors may contribute to this
mucus abnormality. In CF, the cells lining the airway do not transport
salt and water normally, so mucus and other airway secretions may be
depleted of water.
There are also chemical changes in the mucus proteins. The mucus
becomes so thick that it clogs the airways and provides an environment in
which bacteria thrive. In response, white blood cells are recruited into
the lung to fight the infection. These white blood cells die and release
their genetic material, sticky DNA, into the mucus. This DNA aggravates
the already excessive stickiness of the mucus, setting up a vicious cycle
of further airway obstruction, inflammation and infection. To dislodge the
mucus, CF patients cough frequently and require time-consuming daily chest
and back clapping and body positioning to drain lung secretions.
Because the mucus provides an ideal breeding ground for many
microorganisms, CF patients have frequent airway infections. Among the
most common germs causing infections in CF patients are Pseudomonas
bacteria. This germ is difficult to clear in CF patients, even after
treatment with antibiotics. Typically, CF patients have a pattern of
low-grade, persistent infection with periodic worsening, sometimes
requiring hospitalization. Recurring Pseudomonas infection and the
inflammation that accompanies it gradually damage the lungs, causing
respiratory failure, which is the leading cause of death among CF
patients.
As in the lung, thick secretions clog the pancreatic ducts and damage
the pancreas. In some CF patients, this damage occurs even before birth,
while in others it develops more gradually. The pancreas supplies
digestive enzymes and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid so the
enzymes can work properly in the intestine. Most CF patients have
insufficient amounts of digestive enzymes for normal digestion. Pancreatic
insufficiency causes foul-smelling, bulky bowel movements, malnutrition
and slowed growth and development. Replacement of pancreatic enzymes can
alleviate these symptoms. Attention to diet and supplements of fat-soluble
vitamins are also required. As the disease progresses, the cells in the
pancreas that make insulin may also be damaged and patients may develop
diabetes.
In addition to the pancreas, abnormalities are seen in other parts of
the gastrointestinal tract in CF. The bile ducts in the liver may be
affected, causing biliary cirrhosis in a small percentage of patients.
Newborns with CF may develop a condition called meconium ileus, in
which the small intestine is obstructed by a plug of meconium, the
material in the newborn gastrointestinal tract.
CF also affects the reproductive organs, causing infertility in nearly
all men and some women with the disease. Men with CF are generally
infertile because the tubules, called the vas deferens, that
transport sperm from the testes are absent or undeveloped. Fertility may
be reduced in women due to abnormal cervical mucus or to menstrual
irregularity. Although pregnancy can be risky, many women with CF with
relatively good pulmonary function have borne healthy children. However,
the incidence of CF in their offspring is about one in 50.
Salt absorption in the sweat ducts is also impaired, and CF patients
produce extremely salty sweat. Based on this observation, a scientist
working at NIDDK forty years ago developed a sweat test to diagnose CF.
This test is still the standard for diagnosis. With the discovery of the
gene defective in CF, the sweat test can be supplemented by genetic tests
when the results are ambiguous.
The symptoms and severity of CF vary from patient to patient. For
example, not all CF patients suffer from impaired pancreatic function. The
degree of lung disease also varies. Some of this variation can be
attributed to differences in the specific genetic defects in different
patients, but even patients with identical mutations may have very
different severities of disease. Even siblings with the same genetic
defect who share other genetic traits can have different CF
manifestations. Therefore, although the specific mutation in the CF gene
contributes to the course of the disease, other differences in the
individual genetic makeup, and perhaps in the environment, also play a
role.
(Source: excerpt from Cystic Fibrosis Research Directions: NIDDK)
NHLBI, Facts About Cystic Fibrosis: NHLBI (Excerpt)
CF does not follow the same pattern in all patients but
affects different people in different ways and to varying degrees. However, the
basic problem is the same-an abnormality in the glands, which produce or secrete
sweat and mucus. Sweat cools the body; mucus lubricates the respiratory,
digestive, and reproductive systems, and prevents tissues from drying out,
protecting them from infection.
People with CF lose excessive amounts of salt when they sweat. This can upset
the balance of minerals in the blood, which may cause abnormal heart rhythms.
Going into shock is also a risk.
Mucus in CF patients is very thick and accumulates in the intestines and
lungs. The result is malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infections,
breathing difficulties, and eventually permanent lung damage. Lung disease is
the usual cause of death in most patients. (Source: excerpt from NHLBI, Facts About Cystic Fibrosis: NHLBI)
NHLBI, Facts About Cystic Fibrosis: NHLBI (Excerpt)
CF symptoms vary from child to child. A baby born with
the CF genes usually has symptoms during its first year. Sometimes, however,
signs of the disease may not show up until adolescence or even later. Infants or
young children should be tested for CF if they have persistent diarrhea, bulky
foul-smelling and greasy stools, frequent wheezing or pneumonia, a chronic cough
with thick mucus, salty-tasting skin, or poor growth. CF should be suspected in
babies born with an intestinal blockage called meconium ileus.
(Source: excerpt from NHLBI, Facts About Cystic Fibrosis: NHLBI)
Cystic Fibrosis as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis, it is also important to consider Cystic Fibrosis as a possible cause of other medical conditions.
The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Cystic Fibrosis may cause:
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Cystic Fibrosis: Onset and Incubation
Onset of Cystic Fibrosis: Symptoms of CF appear in infancy and childhood
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis.
This signs and symptoms information for Cystic Fibrosis has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Cystic Fibrosis signs or Cystic Fibrosis symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Cystic Fibrosis symptoms.
If you're pregnant, there's a chance that your doctor will suggest a procedure known as chorionic villus sampling to determine if your child...
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» Next page: Diagnostic Tests for Cystic Fibrosis
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