Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease affecting over 9,000 people in the U.K. Cystic fibrosis affects internal organs of the body, especially the lungs and digestive organs. It is a disease which sufferers will be born with and symptoms usually manifest within the first year of birth.

There are numerous symptoms to look out for in a baby which might point to cystic fibrosis. Most commonly, these relate to the lungs. Cystic fibrosis causes a build-up of a thick mucus in the lungs, so symptoms may include:

– persistent, pronounced and frequent coughing

– frequent chest infections

Cystic fibrosis sufferers are especially prone to chest infections and cross-contamination can easily occur between two sufferers via coughing. If a cystic fibrosis sufferer has a chest infection, it is a good idea that they stay away from other sufferers until the infection has passed.

Cystic fibrosis can also affect the digestive system, causing mucus build up in the pancreas. Because the pancreas is needed to create enzymes which digest food, when this is blocked by mucus build-up numerous digestive problems can develop. For this reason, symptoms relating to the digestive system in cases of cystic fibrosis may include:

– large stools result from food not being adequately digested and fats remaining in the stools. This will make stools large, particularly smelly, and difficult to flush away.

– Malnutrition. Since the body may find it difficult to digest fats, sufferers are likely to have difficulty gaining weight. In children, this may result in late puberty. Adults with cystic fibrosis are likely to be below a healthy weight and will have trouble maintaining their weight.

Also relating to problems with the pancreas, older adults with cystic fibrosis are more at risk of developing diabetes. One of the enzymes produced by the pancreas is insulin, so when the pancreas is blocked and not enough insulin is produced, diabetes is likely to occur. This will need to be treated in the same way as suffers of diabetes which is not connected to cystic fibrosis (i.e. with regular injections of insulin). Diabetes in children with cystic fibrosis is uncommon.

Partly due to the malnutrition detailed above, older children and adults suffering cystic fibrosis may find they suffer brittle bones and will be at a greater risk from osteoporosis. A sort of arthritis is also common from the teenage years onwards and symptoms are likely to include swollen, stiff and aching joints.

Again partly in connection with malnutrition (in women especially) infertility is not uncommon in cystic fibrosis sufferers. In women who are especially underweight, menstrual cycles are likely to be irregular or to stop completely, a sign of infertility. In the vast majority of male sufferers, reproductive organs do not develop properly in adolescence, making them infertile.

In some (though not all) cases of cystic fibrosis, the livers bile ducts can become blocked with mucus. This can pose a serious threat to the sufferer and, if allowed to progress, can result in an infection and potential liver failure, in which case a liver transplant would be needed.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pure O2 – Expert in Cystic Fibrosis

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pure O2 – Expert in Cystic Fibrosis (http://www.healthoxygen.com/blog/explaining-cystic-fibrosis/)

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pure O2 – Expert in Cystic Fibrosis

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis treatment, Cystic Fibrosis symptoms