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Health Topics/Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects

What are the symptoms of EPI in people with cystic fibrosis?

Jumo Health
Jumo Health

Symptoms of EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) include the following:

  • Pale, greasy poo (stool) that is hard to flush away. In people with EPI, fats aren't digested properly. When fats aren’t digested they leave the body in poo. This makes it pale, greasy and hard to flush away.
  • More gas than usual.
  • Stomach aches.
  • Feeling tired and weak because food isn't digested properly, leaving the body low on energy.
  • Children with EPI may not grow or may be thinner than their friends.
  • All people with cystic fibrosis get chest infections, but people with EPI may get them even more often. That’s because they can’t get the energy from food that they need to fight off germs.

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