the symptoms of cystic fibrosis vary from person to person and over time. sometimes you will have few symptoms. other times your symptoms may become more severe. one of the first signs of cystic fibrosis (cf) that parents may notice is that their baby's skin tastes salty when kissed or the baby doesn't pass stool when first born. most of the other signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis develop later. they are related to how cystic fibrosis affects the respiratory digestive or reproductive systems of the body. respiratory system signs and symptoms people who have cystic fibrosis have thick sticky mucus that builds up in their airways. this build-up of mucus makes it easier for bacteria to grow and cause infections. infections can block the airways and cause frequent coughing that brings up thick sputum (spit) or mucus that's sometimes bloody. people who have cystic fibrosis tend to have lung infections caused by unusual germs that don't respond to standard antibiotics. for example lung infections due to bacteria called mucoid pseudomonas are much more common in people who have cystic fibrosis. an infection caused by this bacteria may be a sign of cystic fibrosis. people who have cystic fibrosis have frequent bouts of sinusitis an infection of the air-filled spaces behind your eyes nose and forehead. frequent bouts of bronchitis (bron-ki-tis) and pneumonia (nu-mo-ne-ah) also occur. these infections can cause long-term lung damage. as cystic fibrosis gets worse you may develop more serious complications such as pneumothorax (noo-mo-thor-aks) or collapsed lung; or bronchiectasis (brong-ke-ek-ta-sis). some people who have cystic fibrosis also develop nasal polyps (growths in the nose) that may require surgery. digestive system signs and symptoms mucus that blocks tubes or ducts in your pancreas and prevents enzymes from reaching your intestines causes most digestive system signs and symptoms. without these enzymes your intestines can't fully absorb fats and proteins. this can cause ongoing diarrhea or bulky foul-smelling greasy stools. intestinal blockage also may occur especially in newborns. too much gas or severe constipation in the intestines may cause stomach pain and discomfort. a hallmark of cystic fibrosis in children is poor weight gain and growth. these children are unable to get enough nutrients from their food due to the lack of enzymes to help absorb fats and proteins. as cystic fibrosis gets worse other complications may occur such as: pancreatitis (pan-kre-a-ti-tis). this is a condition in which the pancreas become inflamed which causes pain. rectal prolapse. frequent coughing or problems passing stools may cause rectal tissue from inside you to move out of your rectum. liver disease due to inflamed or blocked bile ducts. diabetes. gallstones. reproductive system signs and symptoms men who have cystic fibrosis are infertile because they're born without a vas deferens. this is the tube that delivers sperm from the testicle to the penis. a woman who has cystic fibrosis may have a hard time getting pregnant because of mucus blocking her cervix or other cystic fibrosis complications. other signs symptoms and complications other signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis are related to an upset of the balance of minerals in your blood. cystic fibrosis causes your sweat to become very salty. as a result your body loses large amounts of salt when you sweat. this can cause dehydration (a condition in which your body doesn't have enough fluids) increased heart rate tiredness weakness decreased blood pressure heat stroke and rarely death. cystic fibrosis also can cause clubbing and low bone density. clubbing is the widening and rounding of the tips of your fingers and toes. it develops late in cystic fibrosis because your lungs aren't moving enough oxygen into your bloodstream. low bone density also tends to occur late in cystic fibrosis. it can lead to a bone-thinning disorder called osteoporosis.
what are the signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis?