Tropical sprue history and symptoms: Difference between revisions
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The symptoms of tropical sprue are: | The symptoms of tropical sprue are: | ||
* [[Diarrhoea]] | * [[Diarrhoea]] with passage of 3-20 loose stools per day associated sometimes with the blood and mucus. | ||
* [[Steatorrhea]] or foul-smelling faeces | * [[Steatorrhea]] or foul-smelling faeces | ||
* [[Indigestion]] | * [[Indigestion]] | ||
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* [[Weight loss]] and [[malnutrition]] | * [[Weight loss]] and [[malnutrition]] | ||
* [[Fatigue (physical)|Fatigue]] | * [[Fatigue (physical)|Fatigue]] | ||
* The diarrhea may be accompanied by nausea, anorexia, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, loud borborygmi and occasionally severe vomiting. | |||
* In about a quarter of patients, the onset of diarrhea is preceded for 1 or 2 days by fever, malaise. | |||
Left untreated, nutrient and [[vitamin deficiency| vitamin deficiencies]] may develop in patients with tropical sprue. These deficiencies may have the following symptoms: | Left untreated, nutrient and [[vitamin deficiency| vitamin deficiencies]] may develop in patients with tropical sprue. These deficiencies may have the following symptoms: | ||
Revision as of 17:13, 13 February 2017
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
History and Symptoms
The symptoms of tropical sprue are:
- Diarrhoea with passage of 3-20 loose stools per day associated sometimes with the blood and mucus.
- Steatorrhea or foul-smelling faeces
- Indigestion
- Cramps
- Weight loss and malnutrition
- Fatigue
- The diarrhea may be accompanied by nausea, anorexia, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, loud borborygmi and occasionally severe vomiting.
- In about a quarter of patients, the onset of diarrhea is preceded for 1 or 2 days by fever, malaise.
Left untreated, nutrient and vitamin deficiencies may develop in patients with tropical sprue. These deficiencies may have the following symptoms:
- Vitamin A deficiency: hyperkeratosis or skin scales
- Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies: anaemia
- Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies: spasm, bone pain, numbness and tingling sensation
- Vitamin K deficiency: bruises
Signs
Diagnosis of tropical sprue can be complicated because many diseases have similar symptoms. Your doctor would look for the following signs:
- Abnormal flattening of villi and inflammation of the lining of the small intestine, observed during an endoscopic procedure.
- Presence of inflammatory cell in the biopsy of small intestine tissue.
- Low levels of vitamins A, B12, E, D, and K, as well as serum albumin, calcium, and folate, revealed by a blood test.
- Excess fat in the feces (steatorrhoea).
Tropical sprue is largely limited to within about 30 degrees north and south of the equator. Therefore, if one resides outside of that geographical region, recent travel to the region is a key factor in diagnosing this disease.