Final answer:
High doses of pancreatic enzyme supplements in children with cystic fibrosis could potentially lead to fibrosing colonopathy, a condition involving thickening and scarring of the colon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that affects various organs, including the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines. It is characterized by the production of thick mucus that leads to frequent lung infections and digestive issues. To assist with digestion, individuals with CF often require supplemental pancreatic enzymes, because their natural enzymes may not be sufficient due to thick mucus blocking the pancreatic ducts.
The use of high-dose pancreatic enzyme supplements in children with CF could potentially lead to complications. One such complication is fibrosing colonopathy, which is a condition characterized by thickening and scarring of the colon, potentially due to the high doses of enzymes. The other options listed (steatorrhea, meconium ileus, and CF related diabetes) are conditions associated with CF, but are not typically a direct result of high-dose enzyme supplementation. Steatorrhea is an outcome of malabsorption in CF, meconium ileus is a condition seen in newborns with CF, and CF related diabetes is a result of the CF affecting the pancreas over time.
Therefore, the answer to the student's question is that high doses of pancreatic enzymes in children with CF could result in fibrosing colonopathy.