Steatorrhea (patient information): Difference between revisions
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{{Steatorrhea (patient information)}} | {{Steatorrhea (patient information)}} | ||
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{Vbe}} | {{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{Vbe}} | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Steatorrhea is excretion of abnormal quantities of fat with the feces owing to reduced absorption of fat by the intestine. | [[Steatorrhea]] is excretion of abnormal quantities of fat with the feces owing to reduced absorption of fat by the [[intestine]]. | ||
==What are the Symptoms of Steatorrhea?== | ==What are the Symptoms of Steatorrhea?== | ||
Mild steatorrhea: | Mild [[steatorrhea]]: | ||
* Foamy, frothy (or) mucous filled stool | * Foamy, frothy (or) mucous filled stool | ||
*foul smelling stool | *foul smelling stool | ||
*diarrhea | *[[diarrhea]] | ||
*Greasy stools that are difficult to flush | *Greasy stools that are difficult to flush | ||
* Abdominal pain, cramping, bloating | * [[Abdominal pain]], cramping, bloating | ||
* Heart burn | * [[Heartburn|Heart burn]] | ||
Severe(or) chronic diarrhea | Severe(or) chronic diarrhea | ||
*Chronic loose, heavy and foul smelling stool | *Chronic loose, heavy and foul smelling stool | ||
* | * [[Anemia]] | ||
*Muscle weakness and pain | *Muscle weakness and pain | ||
* | * [[Fever]] | ||
* Skin manifestations | * Skin manifestations | ||
* Neurological manifestations | * Neurological manifestations | ||
*Edema | *Edema | ||
*Bleeding disorders | *[[Bleeding disorders]] | ||
*Vision problems | *[[Vision problems]] | ||
*Weight loss | *Weight loss | ||
*Osteoporosis | *[[Osteoporosis]] | ||
*Flatulence | *[[Flatulence]] | ||
*Abdominal distension | *[[Abdominal distension]] | ||
==What Causes Steatorrhea?== | ==What Causes Steatorrhea?== | ||
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==Who is at Highest Risk?== | ==Who is at Highest Risk?== | ||
*Common risk factors in the development of Steatorrhea include: | *Common [[Risk-benefit analysis|risk]] factors in the development of [[Steatorrhea]] include: | ||
**[[Celiac disease]] | **[[Celiac disease]] | ||
**[[Cystic fibrosis]] | **[[Cystic fibrosis]] | ||
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==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
Quantitative analysis of fat in the stool may be helpful in the diagnosis of steatorrhea. The various tests that may be helpful in the diagnosis are acid steatocrit, near-infrared reflectance analysis (NIRA) and sudan III stain. | Quantitative analysis of fat in the stool may be helpful in the [[diagnosis]] of [[steatorrhea]]. The various tests that may be helpful in the [[diagnosis]] are acid steatocrit, near-infrared reflectance analysis (NIRA) and sudan III stain. | ||
==When to Seek Urgent Medical Care?== | ==When to Seek Urgent Medical Care?== | ||
Dark urine or small amounts of urine. | * Seek urgent [[medical]] care if you experience the following [[symptoms]]: | ||
Rapid heart rate. | **Dark urine or small amounts of urine. | ||
Dry, flushed skin. | **Rapid heart rate. | ||
Headaches or light-headedness. | **Dry, flushed skin. | ||
Fatigue. | **[[Headaches]] or [[Lightheadedness and vertigo|light-headedness]]. | ||
Irritability or confusion. | **[[Fatigue]]. | ||
Severe abdominal or rectal pain. | **Irritability or [[confusion]]. | ||
Blood in the stool or black, tar-like | **Severe [[abdominal]] or [[rectal pain]]. | ||
**[[Blood in the stool]] or black, tar-like stool | |||
==Treatment Options== | ==Treatment Options== | ||
Management of [[steatorrhea]] include treatment of underlying etiology, control of [[diarrhea]] and correction of [[nutritional deficiencies]]. | Management of [[steatorrhea]] include treatment of underlying etiology, control of [[diarrhea]] and correction of [[nutritional deficiencies]]. | ||
*Correcting nutritional deficiencies by supplementing with the following: | *Correcting [[nutritional]] deficiencies by supplementing with the following: | ||
** Vitamin A | ** [[Vitamin A]] | ||
**Vitamin D3 | **[[Vitamin D3]] | ||
**VitaminK | **VitaminK | ||
**Folic acid | **[[Folic Acid|Folic acid]] | ||
**Vitamin B12 | **[[Vitamin B12]] | ||
**Ferrous sulfate | **[[Ferrous sulfate]] | ||
**Calcium carbonate | **[[Calcium carbonate]] | ||
*Antidiarrheals | *Antidiarrheals | ||
** Loperamide | ** [[Loperamide]] | ||
*Bile acid binding resins | *Bile acid binding resins | ||
**Cholestyramine | **[[Cholestyramine]] | ||
*Pancreatic enzyme supplementation | *Pancreatic enzyme supplementation | ||
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* Surgical treatment | * Surgical treatment | ||
**Surgical intervention is usually not recommended for the management of steatorrhea. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with refractory or pre-malignant complications, such as Enteropathy Associated T-cell Lymphoma (EATL) and ulcerative jejunitis (UJ). EATL patients presenting with ulcerative lesions, stenotic lesions, and perforation needs surgical intervention. Surgery also serves as a pre-therapy in order to prevent perforation of the small bowel during chemotherapy in case of EATL. After surgery patients receive immunotherapy, chemotherapy and/or stem cell transplantation. | **Surgical intervention is usually not recommended for the management of [[steatorrhea]]. [[Surgery]] is usually reserved for [[patients]] with refractory or pre-[[malignant]] [[Complications During and Following Cardiac Catheterization and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention|complications]], such as Enteropathy Associated T-cell Lymphoma (EATL) and ulcerative jejunitis (UJ). EATL patients presenting with ulcerative lesions, stenotic lesions, and perforation needs surgical intervention. Surgery also serves as a pre-therapy in order to prevent perforation of the small bowel during chemotherapy in case of EATL. After surgery patients receive [[immunotherapy]], [[chemotherapy]] and/or stem cell transplantation. | ||
==Where to find Medical Care for Steatorrhea?== | ==Where to find Medical Care for Steatorrhea?== | ||
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==Prevention== | ==Prevention== | ||
Effective measures for the primary prevention of steatorrhea include smoking cessation, alcohol cessation, minimizing the use of certain medications, such as antibiotics, that can alter normal bowel flora, and consuming diet rich in dietary fiber | Effective measures for the [[primary prevention]] of [[steatorrhea]] include [[smoking cessation]], alcohol cessation, minimizing the use of certain medications, such as [[antibiotics]], that can alter normal bowel flora, and consuming diet rich in dietary fiber | ||
==What to Expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ==What to Expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
Prognosis generaly is good once the cause are treated and if replacement therapy is started . Most of the time it depend on the the cause of loosing fat in stool. | [[Prognosis]] generaly is good once the cause are treated and if replacement therapy is started . Most of the time it depend on the the cause of loosing fat in stool. | ||
==Possible Complications== | ==Possible Complications== | ||
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Adults: | Adults: | ||
Anemia | [[Anemia]] | ||
Intestinal obstruction | [[Intestinal obstruction]] | ||
Weight loss. | Weight loss. | ||
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Children: | Children: | ||
[[Failure to thrive]] | |||
Anemia | [[Anemia]] | ||
Weight loss | [[Weight loss]] | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
Latest revision as of 18:32, 20 June 2018
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Steatorrhea |
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Steatorrhea On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vindhya BellamKonda, M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
Steatorrhea is excretion of abnormal quantities of fat with the feces owing to reduced absorption of fat by the intestine.
What are the Symptoms of Steatorrhea?
Mild steatorrhea:
- Foamy, frothy (or) mucous filled stool
- foul smelling stool
- diarrhea
- Greasy stools that are difficult to flush
- Abdominal pain, cramping, bloating
- Heart burn
Severe(or) chronic diarrhea
- Chronic loose, heavy and foul smelling stool
- Anemia
- Muscle weakness and pain
- Fever
- Skin manifestations
- Neurological manifestations
- Edema
- Bleeding disorders
- Vision problems
- Weight loss
- Osteoporosis
- Flatulence
- Abdominal distension
What Causes Steatorrhea?
- Celiac disease
- Choledocholithiasis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- Hypolipidemic drugs
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Small bowel bacterial overgrowth syndrome
Who is at Highest Risk?
- Common risk factors in the development of Steatorrhea include:
- Celiac disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficieny
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Hypolipidemic drugs
Diagnosis
Quantitative analysis of fat in the stool may be helpful in the diagnosis of steatorrhea. The various tests that may be helpful in the diagnosis are acid steatocrit, near-infrared reflectance analysis (NIRA) and sudan III stain.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care?
- Seek urgent medical care if you experience the following symptoms:
- Dark urine or small amounts of urine.
- Rapid heart rate.
- Dry, flushed skin.
- Headaches or light-headedness.
- Fatigue.
- Irritability or confusion.
- Severe abdominal or rectal pain.
- Blood in the stool or black, tar-like stool
Treatment Options
Management of steatorrhea include treatment of underlying etiology, control of diarrhea and correction of nutritional deficiencies.
- Correcting nutritional deficiencies by supplementing with the following:
- Antidiarrheals
- Bile acid binding resins
- Pancreatic enzyme supplementation
- Surgical treatment
- Surgical intervention is usually not recommended for the management of steatorrhea. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with refractory or pre-malignant complications, such as Enteropathy Associated T-cell Lymphoma (EATL) and ulcerative jejunitis (UJ). EATL patients presenting with ulcerative lesions, stenotic lesions, and perforation needs surgical intervention. Surgery also serves as a pre-therapy in order to prevent perforation of the small bowel during chemotherapy in case of EATL. After surgery patients receive immunotherapy, chemotherapy and/or stem cell transplantation.
Where to find Medical Care for Steatorrhea?
Medical care for steatorrhea can be found here.
Prevention
Effective measures for the primary prevention of steatorrhea include smoking cessation, alcohol cessation, minimizing the use of certain medications, such as antibiotics, that can alter normal bowel flora, and consuming diet rich in dietary fiber
What to Expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Prognosis generaly is good once the cause are treated and if replacement therapy is started . Most of the time it depend on the the cause of loosing fat in stool.
Possible Complications
The complications of steatorrhea are the following:
Adults:
Weight loss.
Children: