Nasal polyps are common, particularly in children and teenagers. As the disease progresses, people tend to have shortness of breath, and a chronic cough that produces sputum. Breathing problems make it increasingly challenging to exercise, and prolonged illness causes those affected to be underweight for their age. In late adolescence or adulthood, people begin to develop severe signs of lung disease: wheezing, digital clubbing, cyanosis, coughing up blood, pulmonary heart disease, and collapsed lung (atelectasis or pneumothorax).In rare cases, cystic fibrosis can manifest itself as a coagulation disorder. Vitamin K is normally absorbed from breast milk, formula, and later, solid foods. This absorption is impaired in some CF patients. Young children are especially sensitive to vitamin K malabsorptive disorders because only a very small amount of vitamin K crosses the placenta, leaving the child with very low reserves and limited ability to absorb vitamin K from dietary sources after birth. Because clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X are vitamin K–dependent, low levels of vitamin K can result in coagulation problems. Consequently, when a child presents with unexplained bruising, a coagulation evaluation may be warranted to determine whether an underlying disease is present. Lungs and sinuses
Lung disease results from clogging of the airways due to mucus build-up, decreased mucociliary clearance, and resulting inflammation. In later stages, changes in the architecture of the lung, such as pathology in the major airways (bronchiectasis), further exacerbate difficulties in breathing.
This combination of previously developed medicines is able to treat up to 90% of people with cystic fibrosis. This medications restores some effectiveness of the CFTR protein so that it can work as an ion channel on the cells surface. Ecological therapy
It has previously been shown that inter-species interactions are an important contributor to the pathology of CF lung infections. Examples include the production of antibiotic degrading enzymes such as β-lactamases and the production of metabolic by-products such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by anaerobic species, which can enhance the pathogenicity of traditional pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Due to this, it has been suggested that the direct alteration of CF microbial community composition and metabolic function would provide an alternative to traditional antibiotic therapies. Society and culture
Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, a 1997 documentary film
65 Redroses, a 2009 documentary film
Breathing for a Living, a memoir by Laura Rothenberg
Every Breath I Take, Surviving and Thriving With Cystic Fibrosis, book by Claire Wineland
Five Feet Apart, a 2019 romantic drama film starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson
Orla Tinsley: Warrior, a 2018 documentary film about CF campaigner Orla Tinsley
The performance art of Martin OBrien
Continent Chasers, traveller and CF patient documenting travel and CF blogs, continentchasers.com

Notes
References
Further reading
External links

Search GeneCards for genes involved in cystic fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis Mutation Database
"Cystic Fibrosis". MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine.