In the U.S., because of newborn screening, cystic fibrosis can be diagnosed within the first month of life, before symptoms develop. But people born before newborn screening became available may not be diagnosed until the signs and symptoms of CF show up. CF Cystic fibrosis signs and symptoms vary, depending on the severity of the disease. Even in the same person, symptoms may worsen or improve as time passes. Some people may not experience symptoms until their teenage years or adulthood. People who are not diagnosed until adulthood usually have milder disease and are more likely to have atypical symptoms, such as recurring bouts of an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis), infertility and recurring pneumonia. People with cystic fibrosis have a higher than normal level of salt in their sweat. Parents often can taste the salt when they kiss their children. Most of the other signs and symptoms of CF affect the respiratory system and digestive system. CF Respiratory signs and symptoms The thick and sticky mucus associated with cystic fibrosis clogs the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. This can cause signs and symptoms such as:  A persistent cough that produces thick mucus (sputum) Wheezing Exercise intolerance Repeated lung infections Inflamed nasal passages or a stuffy nose Recurrent sinusitis  Digestive signs and symptoms The thick mucus can also block tubes that carry digestive enzymes from your pancreas to your small intestine. Without these digestive enzymes, your intestines aren't able to completely absorb the nutrients in the food you eat. The result is often:  Foul-smelling, greasy stools Poor weight gain and growth Intestinal blockage, particularly in newborns (meconium ileus) Chronic or severe constipation, which may include frequent straining while trying to pass stool, eventually causing part of the rectum to protrude outside the anus (rectal prolapse) 
u s  newborn screening  cystic fibrosis can diagnosed first month life  symptoms develop  people born newborn screening may diagnosed signs symptoms cf show up  cf cystic fibrosis signs symptoms vary  depending severity disease  person  symptoms may worsen improve time passes  people may experience symptoms teenage years adulthood  people who diagnosed adulthood milder disease likely atypical symptoms  recurring bouts inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)  infertility recurring pneumonia  people cystic fibrosis higher normal level salt sweat  parents can taste salt kiss children  signs symptoms cf affect respiratory system digestive system  cf respiratory signs symptoms thick sticky mucus associated cystic fibrosis clogs tubes carry air lungs  can cause signs symptoms as:  persistent cough produces thick mucus (sputum) wheezing exercise intolerance repeated lung infections inflamed nasal passages stuffy nose recurrent sinusitis  digestive signs symptoms thick mucus can block tubes carry digestive enzymes pancreas small intestine  digestive enzymes  intestines aren't able completely absorb nutrients food eat  result often:  foul-smelling  greasy stools poor weight gain growth intestinal blockage  newborns (meconium ileus) chronic severe constipation  may include frequent straining trying pass stool  eventually causing part rectum protrude anus (rectal prolapse) 
cystic fibrosis