Introduction

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that affects the lungs and digestive system. It’s estimated that approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States have this life-threatening disease.

The symptoms of cystic fibrosis vary from person to person, depending on what part of the body is affected most. However, people with cystic fibrosis often experience coughing or wheezing; difficulty breathing; frequent lung infections (including pneumonia); weight loss and malnutrition due to inadequate intake of food and fluids; abdominal pain, bloating after eating or vomiting; diarrhea or constipation (or both); mouth sores from dehydration-related mouth ulcers (commonly known as ‘canker sores’) that bleed easily when brushing teeth or eating hot foods or drinks; skin rashes caused by poor hygiene due to chronic sinusitis/sinus infection with persistent nasal drainage along with chronic cough/wheezing which may affect quality of life including school attendance/performance**END OF PREVIEW SECTION FOR THIS ARTICLE**

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lifelong genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lifelong genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. It’s one of more than 1,000 diseases caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. People with CF may have:

  • Thick, sticky mucus that can cause lung infections;
  • A build-up of salt and water in their sweat ducts;
  • Problems digesting food properly; and/or
  • An increased risk for diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2).

People with CF produce abnormally viscous mucus. This mucus builds up in the body’s organs and makes them work harder than they should to carry out their normal functions.

Mucus is a slippery substance that lines the airways and sinuses. It traps bacteria, viruses and other substances that cause infections, which are then cleared by the immune system.

CF is caused by a mutation in a gene that affects the movement of salt and water across cell membranes. This causes abnormal mucus production, which builds up in the body’s organs over time and interferes with their normal functions.

Symptoms may include:

Symptoms of cystic fibrosis may include:

  • Persistent coughing or wheezing.
  • Tiredness or weakness.
  • Fever, chills and frequent lung infections (including pneumonia).
  • Weight loss and malnutrition due to inadequate intake of food and fluids.

1. Persistent coughing or wheezing

  • Persistent coughing or wheezing
  • Frequent lung infections that can be serious and life-threatening (pneumonia)
  • Thickened mucus that clogs the airways, making it difficult to breathe
  • Blockages in the pancreas prevents enzymes from helping with digestion

2. Tiredness or weakness

Tiredness is a common symptom of CF. As the disease progresses, it becomes more likely that you will experience fatigue. Fatigue can be caused by many factors, including depression, the side effects of medications or treatments you’re receiving and even your environment. If you feel tired all the time without any apparent reason (such as not getting enough sleep), it could be a sign that something else is wrong with your body–such as cystic fibrosis.

If you have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and notice that your energy level has decreased since being diagnosed, talk to your doctor about how this might affect treatment options for managing your symptoms

3. Fever, chills, or frequent lung infections (including pneumonia)

  • Fever. A fever is a sign that your body is fighting an infection. In addition to being associated with cystic fibrosis, fevers can be caused by other diseases and conditions, such as a cold or the flu.
  • Chills. When you have chills, your body temperature drops below normal levels; this causes you to feel cold despite external heat sources such as blankets or warm rooms. Chills are also associated with certain infections like those that cause fever–and they’re another common symptom of cystic fibrosis.* Lung infections (including pneumonia). Lung infections occur when bacteria enter your lungs through breathing in contaminated air or from drinking contaminated water, which leads them into your bloodstream where they spread throughout the rest of your body via blood vessels called capillaries that connect directly into alveoli (tiny air sacs inside our lungs).

4. Weight loss and malnutrition due to inadequate intake of food and fluids

Weight loss and malnutrition are two symptoms of cystic fibrosis that occur at any age. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, it’s important to understand how these conditions can affect you.

Weight loss occurs when your body burns more calories than it takes in through food and fluids. This can lead to a decrease in muscle mass, which makes it harder for your lungs and other organs to perform their functions properly. Malnutrition occurs when there is an imbalance between what you consume and how much nutrition those foods contain (such as vitamins). Because people who have cystic fibrosis often have difficulty eating regular meals due to digestive problems or fatigue caused by other symptoms such as coughing fits, they may end up consuming less than normal amounts of essential nutrients such as iron–which helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body–or zinc–which boosts immune function by fighting viruses like colds or flu viruses

5. Abdominal pain, bloating after eating, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation (or both)

If you have CF, you may experience abdominal pain, bloating after eating and vomiting. You could also have diarrhea or constipation (or both).

If your child has CF, he or she may have these symptoms:

  • Abdominal pain and bloating after eating
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If your child is old enough to talk about his or her symptoms with a doctor or nurse during an office visit, ask him/her to describe how they feel when they have these problems.

6. Mouth sores from dehydration-related mouth ulcers (commonly known as ‘canker sores’) that bleed easily when brushing teeth or eating hot foods or drinks; this can occur at any age

Mouth sores from dehydration-related mouth ulcers (commonly known as ‘canker sores’) that bleed easily when brushing teeth or eating hot foods or drinks; this can occur at any age.

  • Canker sores are painful mouth ulcers that develop on the inside of your cheeks, lips and gums. They are common in people with cystic fibrosis and may be caused by a lack of water in the body (dehydration).
  • Treatment for these sores includes painkillers, anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, antibiotics if there’s an infection present and drinking plenty of fluids to prevent further problems with dehydration.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system. It’s caused by a defect in a gene that makes an abnormal protein, called CFTR. The defective gene causes fluid to be trapped in the body’s tissues, particularly in the lungs and pancreas.

The symptoms of cystic fibrosis vary from mild to severe depending on how much of your body’s surface area is affected by the buildup of mucus and other substances that can block airways or damage organs like your pancreas. Cystic fibrosis can also affect other systems in your body including your liver, intestines, sinuses, sex organs (in males), skin glands (sweat glands) and eyesight

Conclusion

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system. People with CF produce abnormally viscous mucus, which builds up in the body’s organs and makes them work harder than they should to carry out their normal functions. Symptoms may include persistent coughing or wheezing, tiredness or weakness, fever, chills or frequent lung infections (including pneumonia), weight loss and malnutrition due to inadequate intake of food and fluids; abdominal pain bloating after eating vomiting diarrhea or constipation (or both); mouth sores from dehydration related mouth ulcers (commonly known as ‘canker sores’) that bleed easily when brushing teeth or eating hot foods or drinks; this can occur at any age.