Cystic Fibrosis Complications.

Common complications in Cystic Fibrosis.

Repeated infections: The accumulation of sticky, thick mucus in the lungs creates a favorable environment for infectious microorganisms to inhabit and flourish.

Chronic cough: Patients with CF often have a persistent cough that results from repeated respiratory infections. Over time, patients begin coughing up a viscous (thick, sticky), purulent (pus-filled), green-colored sputum.

Recurrent bronchitis: The repeated infections that afflict the lungs of CF patients often lead to bronchitis, inflammation and swelling of the bronchi that obstructs the airways and stimulates the production of mucus. The bronchitic mucus creates yet more obstruction and further increases the chances of infection.

Recurrent pneumonia: Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by a number of microorganisms. Patients with CF are especially susceptible to pneumonial infections because the abnormal mucus and reduced water content in the airways promotes bacterial growth.

Bronchiectasis: Continual respiratory problems can eventually lead to bronchiectasis and permanent lung damage, which is the usual cause of death for CF patients. Bronchiectasis is the chronic dilation of the airways. The enlarged airways become filled with mucus, which makes them prone to more infection, enlarging and damaging them even more. The damage caused by bronchiectasis is permanent, and patients usually cough up a great deal of infected mucus.

Pneumothorax: Pneumothorax is the trapping of gas or air between the lung and the chest wall that occurs as a result of a leaky lung or rupture. More than 10% of all CF patients experience pneumothorax.

Hemoptysis: Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood and is a symptom of many different underlying disorders, including cystic fibrosis. Minor hemoptysis is common in CF patients with advanced lung disease.

Digital clubbing: Digital clubbing is enlargement and bulbous, shiny appearance of the ends of the fingers and toes. It occurs in nearly all CF patients who have advanced lung disease.

Cor pulmonale: Cor pulmonale is an enlargement of the right side of the heart caused by a high resistance to blood flow through the lungs. It is often a prominent feature in patients who have advanced lung disease and leads to heart disease.

Sinusitis: Sinusitis is inflammation of the nasal sinuses. The sinuses are hollow cavities inside the skull that produce mucus and help keep the nasal passageway moist. Chronic sinusitis is common in children with CF and can lead to nasal obstruction and a runny nose.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: Sputum is the substance that is expelled when someone coughs or clears his or her throat. Nearly half of all CF patients have a fungus known as Aspergillus fumigatus in their sputum, and about 10% develop a condition known as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergillosis is an infection in the bronchi or lungs that can lead to the formation of inflammatory lesions.

Nasal polyps (nasal polyposis): Nasal polyps are fleshy growths inside the nose. Nasal polyposis occurs in about 15% to 20% of all CF patients and often requires surgery.