Tropical sprue is a condition seen in residents of, or visitors to tropical areas. It impairs the absorption of nutrients from the intestines, causing malabsorption.
See also: Celiac disease - sprue
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of this disease is swelling (inflammation) of the small intestine due to excess levels of certain types of bacteria in the intestines.
Risk factors are:
Treatment begins with plenty of fluids and electrolytes. Replacement of folate, iron, vitamin B12, and other nutrients may also be needed. Antibiotic therapy with tetracycline or another broad-spectrum antibiotic is given at the beginning of treatment.
Oral tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all of their permanent teeth have appeared, because it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming.
Expectations (prognosis)The outcome is good with treatment.
ComplicationsVitamin and mineral deficiencies are common complications.
In children, sprue leads to:
Call your health care provider if:
Other than avoiding living in or traveling to tropical climates, there is no known prevention for tropical sprue.
ReferencesSemrad CE, Powell DW. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 143.
Tropical sprue is a condition seen in residents of, or visitors to, tropical areas. It impairs the absorption of nutrients from the intestines, causing malabsorption.
See also: Celiac disease - sprue
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of this disease is swelling (inflammation) of the small intestine due to excess levels of certain types of bacteria in the intestines.
Risk factors are:
Treatment begins with plenty of fluids and electrolytes. Replacement of folate, iron, vitamin B12, and other nutrients may also be needed. Antibiotic therapy with tetracycline or another broad-spectrum antibiotic is given at the beginning of treatment.
Oral tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all of their permanent teeth have appeared, because it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming.
Expectations (prognosis)The outcome is good with treatment.
ComplicationsVitamin and mineral deficiencies are common complications.
In children, sprue leads to:
Call your health care provider if:
Other than avoiding living in or traveling to tropical climates, there is no known prevention for tropical sprue.
ReferencesSemrad CE, Powell DW. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 143.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 01/20/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
diverticulitis inflammation of Gugenum and tropical sprue is intestinal injery
Sprue-- A disorder of impaired absorption of nutrients from the diet by the small intestine (malabsorption), resulting in malnutrition. tropical sprue.occurs mainly in tropical regions
Follow a gluten-free diet to prevent recurrance of the disease.
Sprue is another term meaning celiac disease.
Celiac disease may also be called sprue, nontropical sprue, gluten sensitive enteropathy, celiac sprue, and adult celiac disease.
Digestive diseases such as celiac disease and tropical sprue (which affect absorption in the intestine), as well as intestinal infections and injuries, can reduce the amount of enzymes produced.
Psilosos
Malnutrition disorders such as marasmus result from decreased dietary intake of fats/oils and other calories except protein. Malabsorption syndromes such as Tropical Sprue and Celiac's disease can produce fat deficiency symptoms.
the small intestine.
Sprue-- A disorder of impaired absorption of nutrients from the diet by the small intestine (malabsorption), resulting in malnutrition. celiac sprue.occurs more widely and is due to sensitivity to the wheat protein gluten.
A sprue.
channels or runners that connect the sprue to the pattern or mold cavity