Hi, what are the symptoms of CF in babies and do they vary, I mean can some people have CF more severly than others?

Symptoms of CF are: lung congestion & frequent breathing problems & infections and digestion problems-a lot of diarrhea. The kids usually don't gain weight well.

All the above (failure to thrive, diarrhea, congestion, etc.) are correct, but the "classic" sign is a salty-tasting baby! Kiss your baby on the forehead and see what you think. you may also see a ring of salt left on the pillow case where the baby has been sleeping.

Go to cff.org for MUCH more information or to cystic-l.org for a support group with an immense on-line reference library.

The following are the most common symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis. each child may experience symptoms differently.

1. Abnormalities in the glands that produce sweat and mucus. this may cause a loss of salt. A loss of salt may cause an upset in the balance of minerals in the blood , abnormal heart rythm and possibly shock.

2. Thick mucus that accumulates in the lungs and intestines. this may cause malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infection, breathing difficulties, and/or lung disease.

3. Other medical problems, such as:
sinusitis, nasal polyps, clubbing of fingers and toes, pneumothorax (the presence of air or gas in the plural cavity causing the lung to collapse), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), cor pulmonale (enlargement of the right side of the heart), abdominal pain, gas in the intestines, rectal prolapse, liver disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, gallstones, sterility in males.

As stated above, the sypmtoms of CF differ for each child. Infants born with CF usually show symptoms within the first year. Some children, however, may not show symptoms until late in life. The following symptoms may indicate CF, and infants having these signs may be tested for CF:

1. Diarrhea that does not go away
2. Foul-smelling stools
3. Greasy stools
4. Frequent episodes of wheezing
5. Frequent episodes of pneumonia
6. Persistent cough
7. Skin tastes like salt
8. Poor growth
9. Chronic sinus infection

I hope this gives you some insight into this condition. if you need to do some more research, type in your search bar "symptoms of cystic fibrosis in infants". A lot of very good sites come up. Good Luck!