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Desperate
- Question
- My son has all signs of CF. At the hospital, they refuse to test for CF because he is growing well. His growth curve looks like a wild water sea. The first years of his life, he didn’t grow well at all. He weighted 10 kilos before he was one year old but at the age of 2, he still only weighed 10 kilos. In march last year, his tonsils were removed and since then he eats better. Now he is 3,5 years old and weighs 16 kilos. But he also loses weight quickly. Wich hospital should I go to with him? I’m really desperate. Thank you
- Answer
- Dear,
You are worried that your son could have CF.
From your description of complaints, I mainly read about growing well at times, bad at times and easily losing weight. Apart from weight gain, height is important as well. There are very many reasons why a 2 to 3 year old toddler would gain little weight at some point in time. Usually these things get better by themselves or sometimes growth improves after removing tonsils such as happened in your boy. CF is a rare cause of poor growth. In Holland and Belgium only one in 3000 to 4000 children will have CF. ..or from about 200 classes in school with each 20 children, only one will have CF. If a child with CF grows poorly there are always several symptoms. For instance, he would eat a lot and not gain weight; or he would have a lot of fatty, foul smelling stools. He would complain of belly aches off and on or he would have a distended abdomen. Or there’s complaints of coughing a lot and being out of breath during playing. In some children with CF, the skin tastes salty when giving them a kiss on the forehead. If you recognize any of these symptoms, please discuss them with your pediatrician. He knows you and your son and he can give you the best advice. If you think your pediatrician does not listen to your concerns well enough, then I advise to go and see your family doctor. He or she can help you to find a pediatrician where you can go for a second opinion if needed.
Best greetings,
Jeannette Dankert-Roelse, Pediatrician
- 18.05.2009
