<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> THANKS FOR RESPONDING TO THIS QUESTION. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE RESPONSES. ...PAM [log in to unmask] > - Can cystic fibrosis and celiac disease be confused? Evan has no > respiratory problems. > *** absolutely. cystic fibrosis is a diarrheal, malabsorptive disorder. so much so that the diet required is several times the quantity of that for a normal person. at the end of the 19th century the diagnosis of 'consumption' was split into 'consumption of the lungs' and 'consumption of the bowel'. 'consumption of the lungs' was mostly tuberculosis, and 'consumption of the bowel' was renamed 'celiac syndrome'. in the early 20th century 'celiac syndrome' was divided into 'celiac disease' and 'cystic fibrosis'. this split is still one of the diagnostic steps. the salty sweats smack of cystic fibrosis. I hope not. <[log in to unmask]> *** YES to the CF and CD confusion. Also, be sure to get the number from the CF test. Below a certain number (usually around 25 I think) and above another number (this varies from one place to another, usually around 60 - 70) are the negative and positive readings. The gray area in between is the borderline area and this is where my daughter is (her test is 46). As a baby no one mentioned the gray area and she was never seen at the CF clinic.When she was 17 the test was repeated. The years in between were a mess of symptoms and illnesses. Once she began the CF clinic she grew and became healthy. She is also gluten intolerant. She does not have celiac disease but is intolerant of gluten. She is also somewhat lactose intolerant. CF can present with or without respiratory symptoms. Sometimes there are no GI problems and there are respiratory problems. There is a group of infertile men who are missing the vas deferens and this is their only symptom of CF. Not everyone with CF has all the classic symptoms. *** Cystic fibrosis can look like celiac (and vice versa) as both of them involve malabsorption. CF involves the pancreas, though, as well as the respiratory system. I just learned from my daughter's asthma specialist that cf can occur on a continuum, with some kids having very severe symptoms, and others less severe. I also have heard that salty sweat was a red flag for cf. *** ...the sweat test was to rule out cystic fibrosis as it has very similar symptoms to celiac disease but that Cody had no respiratory problems so they were sure it would come back negative. It did but his biopsy came back positive, so we are GF now for almost 4 years. *** My daughter was sick when she was 4 - 5 yrs old. When the doctor started doing testing of the 6 things he said could be wrong, one was CD and the other cystic fibrois. (sp) I questioned the cystic because she also didn't have any respitory problems. She was diagnosed with CD, had a bacteria overgrowth(which is a area you will also want to check into), and hypothroidism. *** (My son) has Cyctic Fibrosis and Celiac as well. Once we were o.k with the diet he is 100% fine a wonderful 13 Y old teenager. E mail me [log in to unmask] Judith *** You asked about Cystic Fibrosis. Apparently, CF has some common symptoms with CD. Its an easy test.They tape some gauze to his arm and put a jacket on him and tell you to make him sweat. In 80 degree weather in Fla. thats easy. Just go out side and run around (bring water to drink!) Then they take the gauze and test the sweat in it for CF.