Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

For children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which is a common characteristic?

1. They are often overweight

2. They usually have chronic wet cough

3. They tend to be short in stature and underweight

4. They frequently have normal breathing patterns

The correct answer is: They tend to be short in stature and underweight

Children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis often exhibit a tendency to be short in stature and underweight. This characteristic arises from several factors associated with the condition. Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and digestive system, leading to difficulty in absorbing nutrients due to pancreatic insufficiency, which often results in malnutrition and poor weight gain. Additionally, the chronic lung infections and inflammation associated with cystic fibrosis can increase metabolic demands, further complicating nutritional status. While the other options refer to traits that might not align with the typical presentations of children with cystic fibrosis, short stature and underweight status are strong indicators of how the disease impacts growth and development in these children. Thus, option C accurately reflects a common characteristic seen in children affected by this condition.