With Cystic Fibrosis the following areas of the body may be affected-
The lungs
Mucus build up clogs up the airways and leads to inflamation and infection. This process injures the lungs and causes structural damage which leads to a range of symptoms. In the early stages of cystic fibrosis people experience incessant coughing, copious phlegm production and a decreased ability to exercise due to shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, recurring infections, some of which can be as severe as pneumonia.
In the later stages, the lungs have become structurally damaged and this exacerbates further chronic difficulties in breathing.
Other symptoms affecting the lungs can include:
People with cystic fibrosis (CF) may also develop other types of lung disease some of which do not respond to common antibiotics.
The sinuses
Thick mucus may also cause blockage of the sinus passages which leads to infection. This may lead to facial pain, fever, nasal drainage and headaches. CF can also cause nasal polyps which can block the nasal passages and increase breathing difficulties.
The intestines.
10% of newborn babies with CF fail to pass faeces. This condition (known as meconium ileus) is caused by the intestines becoming completely blocked and can cause serious illness if not treated.
Older people with CF can develop distal intestinal blockage syndrome whereby thickened faeces block the intestines
Rectal prolapse is a symptom of CF, this is caused by increased fecal volume, malnutrition and increased intra abdominal pressure due to coughing.
The liver
The liver secretes bile which helps with digestion. Cystic Fibrosis can cause the bile ducts to become blocked which leads to liver damage. In turn, this can eventually lead to cirrhosis which hinders the process of eliminating toxins from the blood and stops the production of important proteins.
The pancreas
The pancreas creates digestive juices which are used to break down food. Cystic fibrosis thickens secretions which block the flow of digestive juices into the duodenum. This results in food not been properly absorbed or digested and causes damage to the pancreas and/or inflammation (pancreatitis).
The failure to properly absorb and digest food properly can lead to malnutrition and poor growth.
The pancreas contains the islets of Langerhans which a responsible for the production of insulin. damage to the pancreas caused by cystic fibrosis can lead to the destruction of the islets which causes cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD). This is one of the main non-pulmonary complications of CF.
The skeleton
Malabsorption leads to poor uptake of vitamin D which can result in osteoporosis.The use of steroids to reduce the swelling of airways in the lungs can also lead to osteoporosis.
The reproductive system.
97% of men with cystic fibrosis are sterile because they are missing the tube that connects the testes to the ejaculatory ducts of the penis. Some women have fertility problems dues to thickened cervical mucus or malnutrition. Ovulation can also be disrupted because of malnutrition.