Which two features are most indicative of cystic fibrosis in a child with respiratory symptoms?

Which two features are most indicative of cystic fibrosis in a child with respiratory symptoms?

• A. Chronic productive cough and failure to thrive.
• B. Recurrent epistaxis.
• C. Wheezing with normal growth.
• D. Allergic rhinitis.

Answer: (A)

Two features strongly point to cystic fibrosis because the disease affects both the lungs and the digestive system. The thick, sticky mucus in CF leads to persistent productive cough from ongoing airway infection and mucus plugging. At the same time, many children with CF have pancreatic insufficiency, which causes fat malabsorption and poor weight gain, resulting in failure to thrive. This combination—chronic productive cough from the lungs and growth failure from malnutrition—fits CF well. Recurrent nosebleeds aren’t a hallmark of CF, wheezing with normal growth is more typical of asthma, and allergic rhinitis is an allergic condition that doesn’t explain the malnutrition/growth issues seen in CF.

Two features strongly point to cystic fibrosis because the disease affects both the lungs and the digestive system. The thick, sticky mucus in CF leads to persistent productive cough from ongoing airway infection and mucus plugging. At the same time, many children with CF have pancreatic insufficiency, which causes fat malabsorption and poor weight gain, resulting in failure to thrive. This combination—chronic productive cough from the lungs and growth failure from malnutrition—fits CF well.

Recurrent nosebleeds aren’t a hallmark of CF, wheezing with normal growth is more typical of asthma, and allergic rhinitis is an allergic condition that doesn’t explain the malnutrition/growth issues seen in CF.