My daughter's stools came back normal and so did the sweat conductivity test (I don't know if it's an accredited facility). Should I still investigate further regarding CF?

She was diagnosed as having asthma (using pulmicort respules twice a day) based on her symptoms. The doctor feels this is the reason for her slow growth. I'm a little leery of this diagnosis but it keeps the pediatrician's eye on her anyway.

He said he will be reviewing the list of symptoms I gave him and the copies of all her testing. He feels the diarrhea may be "chronic toddler diarrhea" and that it's not affecting her growth but he isn't committing to it at this point and may do further testing.

I really like him and he seems genuinely concerned so I feel we will get to the bottom of this eventually. Hopefully sooner than later.

Love and Prayers, Kelly

Was her stool test, fecal fat?

Have they done genetic blood testing? There are some diseases that are similar to CF that cause both lung and failure to thrive problems. An aqcuaintence of mine had a daughter with similar -- practically identical symptoms as DS, whose genetic tests show he has CF -- but they never could determine what was wrong with her. They just referred to it as interstial lung disease -- but she had reflux problems, failure to thrive, messy diapers, clubbing of the fingers caused by decreased lung function...

The stool testing included a fecal fat content. All was normal. However, the stool sample I submitted wasn't a typical stool for her. I actually waited hoping she'd have a more typical one but she didn't...well, at least not until we got home :rolleyes: .

She's not doing well on the pulmicort and I'm going to call her doctor tomorrow. Two days after starting it she began vomiting/diarrhea with a fever. Nurse at the pediatrician's office said it's probably a virus and to give her pedialyte. Two weeks later she still has loose stools (not unusual for her though) and no one else got sick (I have 5 children).

Several days ago she began dry coughing with a fever. She now has a productive cough (with wheezing and retractions) and green nasal discharge. She acts slightly under the weather but not like she's very ill. Again, no one else in our home (or anyone we know for that matter) is sick.

When I listen to her chest with a stethoscope (a pediatrician educated me about auscultation when my 5 year old was a baby and had ongoing complications from whooping cough) it sounds like she has a friction rub on the left side.

In my estimation she has pneumonia although not severe as I said before she doesn't *seem* ill. I'll see tomorrow what her doctor suggests.

She has never had genetic testing of any sort. I'm assuming since I have four other healthy children that they figure it's unlikely there's any underlying genetic reason for her condition. Then again I've also had 5 miscarriages so who knows. My other children do appear to have allergies and similar problems as my toddler but it hasn't affected their overall health in an obvious way.

I'm really uncertain as to where to go from here. I've only met her pediatrician once so I have no idea what he'll suggest. I'd like to repeat the sweat test and do a sweat chloride this time instead of the conductivity. Not sure if it'd make a difference or not.

Thank you for the replies!

Love and Prayers, Kelly