Which sign is commonly observed in infants with cystic fibrosis?

• A. Saltiness of the skin
• B. Jaundice
• C. Meconium ileus at birth
• D. Polyphagia

Answer: (A)

Cystic fibrosis disrupts chloride transport in sweat glands, leading to unusually salty sweat. This makes the skin of affected infants commonly appear and feel salty, a frequently observed early clue that clinicians notice in newborns. While meconium ileus at birth can occur in CF due to thick, sticky intestinal mucus, it doesn’t appear in every infant with CF, so salty skin is a more universally recognized sign in early life. Jaundice and polyphagia aren’t typical features of CF—jaundice isn’t characteristic, and polyphagia would not be expected because CF often involves malabsorption and poor weight gain rather than increased appetite.