Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms (Cont.)

Common Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms

The thick, sticky mucus causes most of the cystic fibrosis symptoms. 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

Cystic fibrosis symptoms 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