Cystic fibrosis

Question

How possible is it for a 9 month old baby, who does not eat much and has had respiratory infections (from a severe cold to bronchiolitis) to suffer from CF? It has been sick 4-5 times in 9 months.
During my pregnancy I was checked for the DF508 mutation with negative results.
Thank you

Answer

Dear friend,
Usually, a nine month old baby, who suffers from CF, eats quite a lot but does not gain weight and its feces are plenty, big, fatty and smelly. Furthermore, it has often respiratory infections and persistent cough.
The frequent respiratory infections are a usual finding in children of this age, especially if the go to day care or have older siblings.
You must discuss the situation with your pediatrician and if he/she finds it necessary your baby must get a sweat test with the method of iontophoresis of pilocarpine in an experienced CF center.
The fact that you were checked during your pregnancy for the DF508 mutation with negative results by itself lowers by 50% and reduces even more the possibility of your child having CF, since over 50% of Greek patients with CF carry the said mutation in at least one chromosome. It is highly unlikely that your child has CF.
Yours friendly,
Dr. Stavros Doudounakis

15.11.2012