Salty skin? How salty is too salty?

jackmommy · Apr 23, 2010

My son is 17 months old. Since about 8 months old he has gradually slipped off of the growth chart. He is now 17 months and 19 lb, 13 oz (Below the 3rd %). He was just over 19 lbs when he turned 1 year. We had thought that he is just little and tall for his age, but starting to question that. In the months of Feb, Mar and April, he had repeated upper respiratory infections (viral) which would last for about 9 days and then break for a few days and then start up again, a total of 5 or 6 episodes. In addition, occassionally he has diarrhea (not watery, just very loose) which may last a few weeks. Today he had a soft formed stool that was clay color. But, they usually very in color and are not always clay colored. And lastly, his skin was salty today after playing at the park. He has just a little bit of hair, but even that was salty. My husband thought that all skin is salty after sweating. So, what do you guys think about all of this? I spoke to our ped and he said that at the next well check-up (1 month), he would do more investigating into CF, but he wasn't very concerned. What are your thoughts? Am I overreacting?
Thank you

jackmommy · Apr 23, 2010

My son is 17 months old. Since about 8 months old he has gradually slipped off of the growth chart. He is now 17 months and 19 lb, 13 oz (Below the 3rd %). He was just over 19 lbs when he turned 1 year. We had thought that he is just little and tall for his age, but starting to question that. In the months of Feb, Mar and April, he had repeated upper respiratory infections (viral) which would last for about 9 days and then break for a few days and then start up again, a total of 5 or 6 episodes. In addition, occassionally he has diarrhea (not watery, just very loose) which may last a few weeks. Today he had a soft formed stool that was clay color. But, they usually very in color and are not always clay colored. And lastly, his skin was salty today after playing at the park. He has just a little bit of hair, but even that was salty. My husband thought that all skin is salty after sweating. So, what do you guys think about all of this? I spoke to our ped and he said that at the next well check-up (1 month), he would do more investigating into CF, but he wasn't very concerned. What are your thoughts? Am I overreacting?
Thank you

jackmommy · Apr 23, 2010

My son is 17 months old. Since about 8 months old he has gradually slipped off of the growth chart. He is now 17 months and 19 lb, 13 oz (Below the 3rd %). He was just over 19 lbs when he turned 1 year. We had thought that he is just little and tall for his age, but starting to question that. In the months of Feb, Mar and April, he had repeated upper respiratory infections (viral) which would last for about 9 days and then break for a few days and then start up again, a total of 5 or 6 episodes. In addition, occassionally he has diarrhea (not watery, just very loose) which may last a few weeks. Today he had a soft formed stool that was clay color. But, they usually very in color and are not always clay colored. And lastly, his skin was salty today after playing at the park. He has just a little bit of hair, but even that was salty. My husband thought that all skin is salty after sweating. So, what do you guys think about all of this? I spoke to our ped and he said that at the next well check-up (1 month), he would do more investigating into CF, but he wasn't very concerned. What are your thoughts? Am I overreacting?
Thank you

jackmommy · Apr 23, 2010

My son is 17 months old. Since about 8 months old he has gradually slipped off of the growth chart. He is now 17 months and 19 lb, 13 oz (Below the 3rd %). He was just over 19 lbs when he turned 1 year. We had thought that he is just little and tall for his age, but starting to question that. In the months of Feb, Mar and April, he had repeated upper respiratory infections (viral) which would last for about 9 days and then break for a few days and then start up again, a total of 5 or 6 episodes. In addition, occassionally he has diarrhea (not watery, just very loose) which may last a few weeks. Today he had a soft formed stool that was clay color. But, they usually very in color and are not always clay colored. And lastly, his skin was salty today after playing at the park. He has just a little bit of hair, but even that was salty. My husband thought that all skin is salty after sweating. So, what do you guys think about all of this? I spoke to our ped and he said that at the next well check-up (1 month), he would do more investigating into CF, but he wasn't very concerned. What are your thoughts? Am I overreacting?
Thank you

jackmommy · Apr 23, 2010

My son is 17 months old. Since about 8 months old he has gradually slipped off of the growth chart. He is now 17 months and 19 lb, 13 oz (Below the 3rd %). He was just over 19 lbs when he turned 1 year. We had thought that he is just little and tall for his age, but starting to question that. In the months of Feb, Mar and April, he had repeated upper respiratory infections (viral) which would last for about 9 days and then break for a few days and then start up again, a total of 5 or 6 episodes. In addition, occassionally he has diarrhea (not watery, just very loose) which may last a few weeks. Today he had a soft formed stool that was clay color. But, they usually very in color and are not always clay colored. And lastly, his skin was salty today after playing at the park. He has just a little bit of hair, but even that was salty. My husband thought that all skin is salty after sweating. So, what do you guys think about all of this? I spoke to our ped and he said that at the next well check-up (1 month), he would do more investigating into CF, but he wasn't very concerned. What are your thoughts? Am I overreacting?
 Thank you

NYCLawGirl · Apr 23, 2010

your husband is right that everyone sweats out salt, but CFers *typically* (not always) sweat out more salt. if you can see salt crystals on his skin or if he tastes more or less like a french fry, that's probably not normal. the only way for sure to know whether he is "too salty" is by a sweat test though -- it's not like you can measure the difference by yourself or simply by tasting your son.

viral infections aren't more common in CFers (we don't actually have weakened immune systems), but bacterial respiratory infections are. how did you know that your son's infections were viral? as for the diarrhea, the thing to look for is oily, loose stools -- not to be too graphic, but CF stools often look like they have orange grease/oil in them. they also tend to smell bad and be very bulky.

it's good that your ped is interested in investigating further. personally, i would push for testing at an accredited CF center. sweat tests are often inaccurate when performed at non-CF centers, and you really want the most comprehensive approach possible from the get go in order to avoid a really long drawn out "wild goose chase" trying to either establish or rule out CF. did your doctor tell you what his plan was as far as "investigating" CF for your son? i think especially if you live in a city where there is a CF center close by it would be worth asking fr a referral sooner rather than later, as you're not probably not going to get a very satisfactory answer one way or another without at least one visit to an established CF pediatric clinic.

good luck! we're here gor you through the whole process, CF or no.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 23, 2010

your husband is right that everyone sweats out salt, but CFers *typically* (not always) sweat out more salt. if you can see salt crystals on his skin or if he tastes more or less like a french fry, that's probably not normal. the only way for sure to know whether he is "too salty" is by a sweat test though -- it's not like you can measure the difference by yourself or simply by tasting your son.

viral infections aren't more common in CFers (we don't actually have weakened immune systems), but bacterial respiratory infections are. how did you know that your son's infections were viral? as for the diarrhea, the thing to look for is oily, loose stools -- not to be too graphic, but CF stools often look like they have orange grease/oil in them. they also tend to smell bad and be very bulky.

it's good that your ped is interested in investigating further. personally, i would push for testing at an accredited CF center. sweat tests are often inaccurate when performed at non-CF centers, and you really want the most comprehensive approach possible from the get go in order to avoid a really long drawn out "wild goose chase" trying to either establish or rule out CF. did your doctor tell you what his plan was as far as "investigating" CF for your son? i think especially if you live in a city where there is a CF center close by it would be worth asking fr a referral sooner rather than later, as you're not probably not going to get a very satisfactory answer one way or another without at least one visit to an established CF pediatric clinic.

good luck! we're here gor you through the whole process, CF or no.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 23, 2010

your husband is right that everyone sweats out salt, but CFers *typically* (not always) sweat out more salt. if you can see salt crystals on his skin or if he tastes more or less like a french fry, that's probably not normal. the only way for sure to know whether he is "too salty" is by a sweat test though -- it's not like you can measure the difference by yourself or simply by tasting your son.

viral infections aren't more common in CFers (we don't actually have weakened immune systems), but bacterial respiratory infections are. how did you know that your son's infections were viral? as for the diarrhea, the thing to look for is oily, loose stools -- not to be too graphic, but CF stools often look like they have orange grease/oil in them. they also tend to smell bad and be very bulky.

it's good that your ped is interested in investigating further. personally, i would push for testing at an accredited CF center. sweat tests are often inaccurate when performed at non-CF centers, and you really want the most comprehensive approach possible from the get go in order to avoid a really long drawn out "wild goose chase" trying to either establish or rule out CF. did your doctor tell you what his plan was as far as "investigating" CF for your son? i think especially if you live in a city where there is a CF center close by it would be worth asking fr a referral sooner rather than later, as you're not probably not going to get a very satisfactory answer one way or another without at least one visit to an established CF pediatric clinic.

good luck! we're here gor you through the whole process, CF or no.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 23, 2010

your husband is right that everyone sweats out salt, but CFers *typically* (not always) sweat out more salt. if you can see salt crystals on his skin or if he tastes more or less like a french fry, that's probably not normal. the only way for sure to know whether he is "too salty" is by a sweat test though -- it's not like you can measure the difference by yourself or simply by tasting your son.

viral infections aren't more common in CFers (we don't actually have weakened immune systems), but bacterial respiratory infections are. how did you know that your son's infections were viral? as for the diarrhea, the thing to look for is oily, loose stools -- not to be too graphic, but CF stools often look like they have orange grease/oil in them. they also tend to smell bad and be very bulky.

it's good that your ped is interested in investigating further. personally, i would push for testing at an accredited CF center. sweat tests are often inaccurate when performed at non-CF centers, and you really want the most comprehensive approach possible from the get go in order to avoid a really long drawn out "wild goose chase" trying to either establish or rule out CF. did your doctor tell you what his plan was as far as "investigating" CF for your son? i think especially if you live in a city where there is a CF center close by it would be worth asking fr a referral sooner rather than later, as you're not probably not going to get a very satisfactory answer one way or another without at least one visit to an established CF pediatric clinic.

good luck! we're here gor you through the whole process, CF or no.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 23, 2010

your husband is right that everyone sweats out salt, but CFers *typically* (not always) sweat out more salt. if you can see salt crystals on his skin or if he tastes more or less like a french fry, that's probably not normal. the only way for sure to know whether he is "too salty" is by a sweat test though -- it's not like you can measure the difference by yourself or simply by tasting your son.
 
 viral infections aren't more common in CFers (we don't actually have weakened immune systems), but bacterial respiratory infections are. how did you know that your son's infections were viral? as for the diarrhea, the thing to look for is oily, loose stools -- not to be too graphic, but CF stools often look like they have orange grease/oil in them. they also tend to smell bad and be very bulky.
 
 it's good that your ped is interested in investigating further. personally, i would push for testing at an accredited CF center. sweat tests are often inaccurate when performed at non-CF centers, and you really want the most comprehensive approach possible from the get go in order to avoid a really long drawn out "wild goose chase" trying to either establish or rule out CF. did your doctor tell you what his plan was as far as "investigating" CF for your son? i think especially if you live in a city where there is a CF center close by it would be worth asking fr a referral sooner rather than later, as you're not probably not going to get a very satisfactory answer one way or another without at least one visit to an established CF pediatric clinic.
 
 good luck! we're here gor you through the whole process, CF or no.

redheadedmommy · Apr 23, 2010