Diseases

Nontropical

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Medical definition of sprue, nontropical. Sprue causes impaired absorption and digestion of nutrients through the small intestine. Symptoms include frequent diarrhea and weight loss. A skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis can be associated with celiac sprue.

SYMPTOMS

Requires a medical diagnosis

The classic symptom is diarrhoea. Other symptoms include bloating, wind, fatigue, low blood count (anaemia) and osteoporosis. Many people have no symptoms.

People may experience:

Pain areas: in the abdomen or joints
Pain types: can be burning in the chest
Gastrointestinal: belching, diarrhoea, fat in stool, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, or flatulence
Whole body: bone loss, fatigue, or malnutrition
Developmental: delayed puberty or slow growth
Also common: cramping, itching, lactose intolerance, skin rash, or weight loss

CAUSES

The cause of tropical sprue is not known. It may be caused by persistent bacterial, viral, amoebal, or parasitic infections. Folic acid deficiency, effects of malabsorbed fat on intestinal motility, and persistent small intestinal bacterial overgrowth may combine to cause the disorder.