Tropical sprue is a rare acquired disease, probably of infectious etiology, characterized by malabsorption and megaloblastic anemia. Diagnosis is
clinical and by small-bowel biopsy
. Treatment is with tetracycline and folate for 6 months.
What are the symptoms of tropical sprue?
The symptoms of Tropical Sprue may include
fatigue and diarrhea with stools
that are abundant, pale and foul-smelling. People with this disorder may also experience a profound loss of appetite (anorexia), a sore tongue, night blindness, weight loss, a loss of strength and energy (asthenia) and general weakness.
What is the difference between tropical sprue and celiac disease?
Tropical sprue is a malabsorption disease commonly found in tropical regions, marked with abnormal flattening of the villi and inflammation of the lining of the small intestine. It differs
significantly
from coeliac sprue. It appears to be a more severe form of environmental enteropathy.
What is tropical sprue?
Tropical sprue is
a chronic diarrheal disease
Can tropical sprue go away on its own?
Tropical sprue is treated with
antibiotics
. This kills the bacteria overgrowth that results in this condition. Antibiotics may be given for a period of two weeks or one year. Tetracycline is the most commonly used antibiotic for treating tropical sprue.
Who gets tropical sprue?
Tropical sprue is also common in
India, Pakistan
, and to a lesser degree in Burma, Indonesia, Borneo, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, but is uncommon in Africa, China, and the Middle East [4]. Only rare cases of tropical sprue have been reported in the United States.
Why is celiac disease called sprue?
Celiac disease damages the villi, leaving your body unable to absorb nutrients necessary for health and growth. Celiac disease, sometimes called celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is
an immune reaction to eating gluten
, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
What sprue means?
(Entry 1 of 2) 1 :
the waste piece on a casting
(as of metal or plastic) left by the hole through which the mold was filled. 2 : the hole in which a sprue forms. sprue.
Does tropical sprue cause anemia?
Patients with tropical sprue typically present with
macrocytic anemia
due to malabsorption of folate and/or vitamin B(12).
What is sprue like syndrome?
Sprue-like enteropathy involves
unexpected weight loss and severe diarrhea
that can result in chronic gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract conditions including villous atrophy that can restrict the absorption of nutrients from consumed food.
What do u take folic acid for?
Folic acid is used to:
treat or prevent folate deficiency
What happens in pellagra disease?
Pellagra is a systemic disease that results from
severe vitamin B3 (Niacin) deficiency
. Mild deficiency may go unnoticed, but a diet chronically low or without Niacin may result in the 4 D's: diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and possibly even death. Usually diarrhea will occur before the other D's.
How is celiac disease diagnosed?
Two blood tests can help diagnose it:
Serology testing looks for antibodies in your blood
. Elevated levels of certain antibody proteins indicate an immune reaction to gluten. Genetic testing for human leukocyte antigens (HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8) can be used to rule out celiac disease.
What bacteria causes Whipple's disease?
Whipple disease is caused by a type of bacterium called
Tropheryma whipplei
. The bacteria affect the mucosal lining of your small intestine first, forming small sores (lesions) within the wall of the intestine. The bacteria also damage the fine, hairlike projections (villi) that line the small intestine.
What is AIE disease?
Introduction.
Autoimmune enteropathy
(AIE) is a rare disease characterized by intractable diarrhea, villous atrophy of the small intestine, the presence of autoantibodies, and usually the need for immunosuppressive treatment [1–6].
