One thousand infants are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis every year in America, according to the 2004 report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some cystic fibrosis symptoms are seen in newborn babies. Some symptoms can be seen in infants. And there are still other symptoms that do not show until childhood or even adulthood.
Colicky Abdominal Pain
A colicky abdominal pain is a pain that "comes and goes." Intussusception is one disorder that causes this type of pain. Infants who have cystic fibrosis can develop intussusception, whereby one part of the intestines folds into another part. The infant may vomit and pull his legs up towards his chest. William Cochran, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Geisinger Clinic in "The Merck Manual" writes that sometimes, the physician can even feel a mass in the abdomen. The folded intestines feel like a sausage. In cystic fibrosis, an abnormal gene results in thick mucus being produced by certain glands. The thick mucus in the bowel movement can trigger the intussusception.
Productive Cough
A productive cough indicates a cough whereby you are producing, or coughing up, sputum (mucus, phlegm). Infants with cystic fibrosis have this symptom because the cilia that are in the respiratory tract are not functioning. They are not trapping foreign particles. As such, the infants develop continual respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchi of the lung. Pneumonia is an infection of the lung. Gwendolyn Kerby, M.D., Assistant Professor of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine writes in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics" that respiratory infections can start when the infant is only a few months old. At first, S. aureus and H. influenzae cause infections, but eventually most of the infections will be caused by Pseudomonas.
Failure to Thrive
The term, "failure to thrive" is used to describe an infant or child whose growth and weight is extremely below normal. Infants with cystic fibrosis experience a failure to thrive even though they have a good appetite. The pancreas makes and secretes enzymes to help digest protein and fat. But the thick mucus of cystic fibrosis affects the pancreas, and the enzymes are not secreted. Proteins and fats are not broken down and absorbed. Cystic fibrosis infants will also have a deficiency of the fat-soluble vitamins as well: vitamins D, A, K and E. Lipase, the enzyme that digests fats is also needed to digest the fat-soluble vitamins. So, infants with cystic fibrosis will eat, but will not be nourished. They will fail to thrive.
Steatorrhea
According to Dr. Kerby in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics," the infants will have steatorrhea, or fatty bowel movements. Because the pancreas cannot secrete lipase, the fats that are not broken down and absorbed are excreted in the bowel movements. The stools of the infants will usually be oily and very smelly.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics"; William Hay, Jr., M.D., Myron Levin, M.D., Judith Sondheimer, M.D., Robin Deterding, M.D.; 2009
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Intussusception
