Tropical sprue

Tropical sprue

Infobox_Disease
Name = PAGENAME


Caption =
DiseasesDB = 13393
ICD10 = ICD10|K|90|1|k|90
ICD9 = ICD9|579.1
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus = 000275
eMedicineSubj = med
eMedicineTopic = 2162
MeshID = D013182

Tropical sprue is a malabsorption disease commonly found in the tropical regions, marked with abnormal flattening of the villi and inflammation of the lining of the small intestine.

It differs significantly from coeliac sprue.

ymptoms

The illness usually starts with an attack of acute diarrhoea, fever and malaise following which, after a variable period, the patient settles into the chronic phase of diarrhoea, steatorrhoea, weight loss, anorexia, malaise and nutritional deficiencies.

The symptoms of tropical sprue are:

* Diarrhea
* Steatorrhea or foul-smelling faeces
* Indigestion
* Cramps
* Weight loss and malnutrition
* Fatigue

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

igns

Diagnosis of tropical sprue can be complicated because many diseases have similar symptoms. The following signs are suggestive:

* Abnormal flattening of villi and inflammation of the lining of the small intestine, observed during an endoscopic procedure.
* Presence of inflammatory cells 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).
* Thickened small bowel folds seen on barium swallow

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.

Cause

The cause of tropical sprue is not known. It has been suggested that it is caused by bacterial, viral, amoebal, or parasitic infection. Folic acid deficiency and rancid fat have also been suggested as possible causes.

In a condition called coeliac (also: celiac) disease (also known as "coeliac sprue"), which has similar symptoms to tropical sprue, the flattening of the villi and small intestine inflammation is caused by an autoimmune disorder.

Affected Regions

The disease was first described by William Hillary in 1759 in Barbados. Tropical sprue is endemic to India and southeast Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Treatment

Once diagnosed, tropical sprue can be treated by a course of the antibiotic tetracycline(Doxycycline) or Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim(Co-trimoxazole) and vitamins B12 and folic acid for at least 6 months.

Prevention

Preventions of tropical sprue include avoiding travel to the affected regions.

If you have to travel, remember to use only bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, and washing food. Do not eat fruits that have been washed with tap water or limit yourself to fruits that can be peeled, such as banana and oranges.

Prognosis

The prognosis for tropical sprue is excellent. It usually does not recur in patients who get it during travel to affected regions. The recurrence rate for natives is about 20%.

External links

* [http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10902.html InteliHealth - Tropical Sprue]
* [http://www.healthinplainenglish.com/health/digestive/tropical_sprue/index.htm Health In Plain English - Tropical Sprue]
* [http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec02/ch017/ch017h.html Malabsorption Syndromes: Tropical Sprue] at Merck Manual


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • tropical sprue — n SPRUE (2) * * * a malabsorption syndrome occurring in the tropics and subtropics; the malabsorption usually leads to protein energy malnutrition and often folic acid deficiency anemia and stomatitis. It is relatively uncommon in children, and… …   Medical dictionary

  • tropical sprue — ▪ disease       an acquired disease characterized by the small intestine s (small intestine) impaired absorption of fats, vitamins, and minerals. Its cause is unknown; infection, parasite infestation, vitamin deficiency, and food toxins have been …   Universalium

  • tropical sprue — noun a chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and non tropical forms and in both children and adults; nutrients are not absorbed; symptoms include foul smelling diarrhea and emaciation • Syn: ↑sprue, ↑psilosis • Hypernyms: ↑disorder, ↑upset …   Useful english dictionary

  • tropical sprue — noun Date: circa 1955 sprue II,1 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tropical sprue — noun A particular disease whose major symptom is malabsorption …   Wiktionary

  • SPRUE — [синонимы: aphthae tropicae (van der Burg, 1880), diarrhoea alba, psilosis linguae (Thin, 1897), tropical diarrhoea], тяжелое хрон. заболевание, характеризующееся циклическим течением, поносами в виде обильных пенистых беловатых испражнений,… …   Большая медицинская энциклопедия

  • sprue — 1. Primary intestinal malabsorption with steatorrhea. SYN: cachexia aphthosa. 2. In dentistry, wax or metal used to form the aperture(s) for molten metal to flow into a mold to make a casting …   Medical dictionary

  • Sprue — A sprue may refer to: *Sprue as used in foundry casting. *Sprue, found on injection moulded products. *Sprue, a disease of the small intestine. *Tropical sprue. *Sprue Asparagus, first pickings of asparagus …   Wikipedia

  • sprue — I. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1875 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 II. noun Etymology: Dutch spruw; akin to Middle Low… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sprue — psilosis; n. deficient absorption of food due to disease of the small intestine. Tropical sprue is seen in people from temperate regions who stay in tropical climates for weeks or months. It is characterized by diarrhoea (usually steatorrhoea),… …   The new mediacal dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”