Tropical Sprue

Armando Bosch, MD and Laura B Bishop, M.D. Reviewed 06/2022

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Malabsorption syndrome (MAS) of unknown/infectious etiology occurring primarily in patients in the tropics and subtropics: diagnosis likely if (1):
- Typical clinical presentation
- Defic...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Fatigue
Asthenia
Weight loss
Diarrhea (usually chronic)
Abdominal cramps
Flatulence
Borborygmi
Night blindness (vitamin A deficiency)
Anorexia
Steatorrhea
Paresthesias
Ecchymoses (vitamin K defi...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Correct nutritional deficiencies (e.g., vitamin B₁₂, folic acid).
Control diarrhea.
Replace fluids, electrolytes; transfuse as necessary.
Relapsing symptoms and malnutrition pos...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

No restrictions, as tolerated

Patient Monitoring

As needed for symptoms

DIET

No special diet (gluten-free diets do not have an effect on this disease); restriction ...

REFERENCES

Ghoshal UC, Srivastava D, Verma A, et al. Tropical sprue in 2014: the new face of an old disease. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2014; 16(6)...

ADDITIONAL READING

Sharma P, Baloda V, Gahlot GP, et al. Clinical, endoscopic, and histological differentiation between celiac disease and tropical sprue: a systematic review. J G...

CODES

ICD10

K90.1 Tropical sprue

SNOMED

47384003 Tropical sprue (disorder)

CLINICAL PEARLS

Tropical sprue is a chronic diarrheal disease endemic to certain areas, characterized by malabsorption of nutrients, particularly vitamin B12 and folate.
Endoscopic biopsy of the small ...

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