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Sub-Category:

Tropical Sprue

Sub-category: Malabsorptive Disorders

Symptoms:
chronic diarrhea; steatorrhea (fatty stools); abdominal cramps; bloating; weight loss; fatigue; nutritional deficiencies (e.g., b12 and folate deficiency)

Root Cause:
A poorly understood condition affecting the small intestine, leading to malabsorption of nutrients, likely caused by environmental or infectious factors in tropical regions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, blood tests showing nutritional deficiencies, stool tests to exclude other infections, and small bowel biopsy showing villous atrophy.

Treatment:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics like tetracycline combined with folate and vitamin B12 supplementation for malabsorption correction.

Medications:
Tetracycline (an antibiotic effective against intestinal infections) and folic acid or vitamin B12 supplements for nutritional support.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Limited to tropical and subtropical regions; prevalence is higher in residents and long-term visitors to these areas.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Long-term residence in or travel to tropical regions, exposure to contaminated food or water, and poor sanitation.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment, but relapses can occur if untreated or if the individual returns to the same environment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe malnutrition, anemia, and prolonged nutritional deficiencies if untreated.