Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms

Common Symptoms

The thick, sticky mucus causes most of the symptoms of cystic fibrosis. The most common symptoms include:
 
  • Frequent coughing that brings up thick sputum, or phlegm.
     
  • Frequent bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia, which can lead to inflammation and permanent lung damage.
     
  • Salty-tasting skin.
     
  • Dehydration.
     
  • Infertility (mostly in men).
     
  • Ongoing diarrhea or bulky, foul-smelling, and greasy stools.
     
  • Huge appetite but poor weight gain and growth. This is called "failure to thrive." It is a result of chronic malnutrition because you do not get enough nutrients from your food.
     
  • Stomach pain and discomfort caused by too much gas in your intestines.
     

Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms and Other Medical Conditions

Signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis can also lead to other medical problems, including:
 
  • Sinusitis
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Episodes of intestinal blockage (especially in newborns)
  • Nasal polyps (growths in your nose) that may require surgery
  • Clubbing (the widening and rounding of the tips of your fingers and toes)
  • Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
  • Rectal prolapse (rectal tissue from inside you moves out of your rectum)
  • Liver disease due to inflammation or blocked bile ducts
  • Diabetes
  • Gallstones
  • Low bone density because you do not get enough vitamin D.

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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