Cystic fibrosis, which is also referred to as mucoviscidosis, is a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory and digestive tracts. Patients with cystic fibrosis have a gene defect that causes the body to produce excessive amounts of mucus. Approximately 30,000 people in the United States have this condition, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The common symptoms of cystic fibrosis can be life-threatening if treatment is not received.
Salty Skin
One of the first symptoms of cystic fibrosis is an unusually salty taste to the skin, explain doctors at the Mayo Clinic. High levels of salt within the sweat of patients with this condition may be noticeable to a loved one when kissing the patient's cheek or mouth.
Respiratory Difficulties
Cystic fibrosis is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of thick, sticky mucus within the lungs. As a result, patients with this condition can develop respiratory difficulties as a common symptom of cystic fibrosis. Excess mucus within the lungs can damage these delicate tissues, leading to shortness of breath or persistent coughing. Mucus may also clog the airways of affected patients, which can cause wheezing or significant difficulty breathing.
Normally, healthy patients can clear infectious pathogens from the lungs by coughing up small amounts of phlegm. The overproduction of mucus caused by cystic fibrosis makes it harder for the lungs to clear pathogens that enter the respiratory tract. As a result, patients with this condition are at an increased risk of developing recurrent lung infections. If patients with cystic fibrosis do not receive adequate treatment, these respiratory symptoms can be fatal.
Digestive Difficulties
High volumes of mucus within the digestive tract can interfere with the way consumed food is digested by the body. As a result, patients can experience bowel movement difficulties as a symptom of this disease. Bowel movements may be difficult to produce and can appear abnormally pale or clay-colored. Patients with cystic fibrosis frequently produce stools that contain mucus and emit a strong, foul odor, explains Medline Plus, a health information website supported by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. These bowel movement difficulties may also occur in conjunction with additional symptoms, such as nausea, decreased appetite or stomach pain, cramping or bloating.
Sinus Pain
Patients with cystic fibrosis can develop small growths within the nasal passages called polyps. If this occurs, affected patients can experience excessive nasal congestion, pressure or discomfort. These patients may also be at an increased risk of developing recurrent sinus infections, which may occur in conjunction with fatigue, sneezing or coughing.
Weight Loss
Excessive digestive mucus due to cystic fibrosis can prevent the nutrients in food from being adequately absorbed by the body. These disease effects can lead to poor growth or weight loss in affected patients. Cystic fibrosis patients may continually lose weight despite healthy eating habits.
