In addition to chronic productive cough and poor growth, which sign may be present in cystic fibrosis?

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Multiple Choice

In addition to chronic productive cough and poor growth, which sign may be present in cystic fibrosis?

Explanation:
Salty skin is a clue in cystic fibrosis because the CFTR gene defect causes faulty chloride transport and increased sodium reabsorption in sweat glands, leading to sweat with a high salt concentration. This salty sweat can be noticed on the skin or when taste is involved, and it complements the other signs like chronic productive cough and poor growth. The other signs don’t fit CF: blue sclera points to osteogenesis imperfecta, laryngomalacia causes noisy breathing in infancy, and hypertonia reflects neuromuscular or CNS issues rather than CF. Diagnosis is confirmed with a sweat chloride test and genetic testing.

Salty skin is a clue in cystic fibrosis because the CFTR gene defect causes faulty chloride transport and increased sodium reabsorption in sweat glands, leading to sweat with a high salt concentration. This salty sweat can be noticed on the skin or when taste is involved, and it complements the other signs like chronic productive cough and poor growth. The other signs don’t fit CF: blue sclera points to osteogenesis imperfecta, laryngomalacia causes noisy breathing in infancy, and hypertonia reflects neuromuscular or CNS issues rather than CF. Diagnosis is confirmed with a sweat chloride test and genetic testing.

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