Tropical sprue (patient information)

Tropical sprue is a condition affecting the absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that is common in the tropics and subtropics.

• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea, worse on high-fat diet
• Excessive gas (flatus)
• Indigestion
• Irritability
• Muscle cramps
• Numbness
• Paleness
• Weight loss

In children, sprue leads to:

• Delay in the maturing of bones (skeletal maturation)
• Growth failure

This disease is caused by inflammation of, and damage to the small intestine due to having too much of certain types of bacteria in the intestines.

Risk factors are:

• Living in the tropics
• Long periods of travel to tropical destinations

Tropical Sprue can be diagnosed using the following tests and exams:

• Bone density test
• CHEM 20
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Comprehensive metabolic panel
• Enteroscopy
• Folate level (serum)
• Iron level (serum)
• Stool examination for bacteria and parasites
• Upper endoscopy
• Upper GI series
• Vitamin B12 level (serum)
• Vitamin D level

Call your health care provider if:

• Tropical sprue symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment
• You develop new symptoms
• You have diarrhea or other symptoms of this disorder for a long period of time, especially after spending time in the tropics

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 is given at the beginning of treatment.

Oral tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all permanent teeth have appeared. It can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming.

Directions to Hospitals Treating Tropical sprue

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.

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%.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are common complications.

In children, sprue leads to:

• Delay in the maturing of bones (skeletal maturation)
• Growth

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000275.htm

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