Meconium ileus is associated with:: (A) Fibrocystic disease of pancreas, (B) Liver aplasia, (C) Cirrhosis of liver, (D) Malnutrition
Answer is A. Meconium ileus in the newborn represents the earliest clinical manifestation of CF and affects roughly 15% of patients with this inherited disease Cystic FIbrosis Diagnosis The diagnosis of CF is usually confirmed in the postoperative period The pilocarpine iontophoresis sweat test revealing a chloride concentration >60mEq/L is the most reliable and definitive method to confirm the diagnosis of CF. This test may not be reliable in infants and is usually performed later. A more immediate test includes detection of the mutated CFTR gene. This test, coupled withh a careful family history and clinical presentation, permits confirmation of the diagnosis in most infants Ref: Sabiston 20th edition Pgno: 1875