Cystic fibrosis is a disease that is inherited from one's parents--it is genetic in nature. It involves production of abnormally thick mucus in the body. Production of thick, sticky mucus can lead to clogging of various body systems such as the lungs, the intestines and the pancreatic ducts. According to The Children's Hospital, 30,000 children and adults in the United States are affected by cystic fibrosis. The presence of abnormally thick mucus in the body of a child causes symptoms like meconium ileus.
Meconium Ileus
Meconium is a substance found in the intestine of newborn babies. This substance is emitted by babies in the first few hours or days of life outside the womb. Meconium ileus is a condition where a baby's intestines become blocked due to accumulation of thick, sticky meconium. A child may be unable to pass meconium because of this. A child with cystic fibrosis may have meconium ileus at birth.
Poor Growth
Cystic fibrosis affects a child's digestive system. Due to clogged parts, a child with cystic fibrosis is unable to absorb nutrients from consumed foods. The pancreas secretes juices that digest foods in order to provide the body with fats and proteins.
In cystic fibrosis, the pancreatic ducts are blocked; therefore, the pancreatic juice cannot reach the intestines for digestion. Due to this, nutrients such as fat-soluble vitamins are lost in feces instead of being absorbed in the intestines. This happens even when the child consumes a normal diet and has a healthy appetite. The lack of nutrients results in poor growth. A lack of weight gain in babies is an indication of poor growth.
Respiratory Symptoms
Under normal circumstances, the lungs produce mucus that makes breathing easier and protects the lungs. In cystic fibrosis, the mucus produced in the lungs is thick and sticky and can clog up the lungs. Since disease-causing organisms grow easily in accumulated mucus, a child with cystic fibrosis may develop respiratory problems like wheezing, nasal congestion, asthma-like symptoms and repeated respiratory infections. Some symptoms of lung-related problems in cystic fibrosis include coughing up globs of mucus and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Digestive System Symptoms
According to Medline Plus, other cystic fibrosis symptoms associated with the digestive system include: stomach pain due to severe constipation; increased gas in the stomach; a stomach that looks swollen or is bloated; nausea; loss of appetite and foul smelling stools that float or have mucus in them. These symptoms occur in children with cystic fibrosis because their stomach is clogged up with thick mucus and the lack of adequate digestion of food in their intestine.
