What Is Non-tropical Sprue? Posted: 11-26-07 12:35pm
Non-Tropical Sprue is a synonym for Celiac
Disease, or Coeliac Disease as it's
spelled in the UK and Autralia. It is an
autoimmune disorder which results in
damage being done to the small intestine.
It's classical symptoms include diarrhea,
bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort,
weight loss, fatigue, and anemia, to name
a few.
Tropical Sprue is different, thus the
confusing names. Tropical Sprue is a
digestive problem that occurs in the
tropics and subtropics. People with
tropical sprue do not absorb nutrients
properly, especially vitamin B12 and folic
acid.Treatment is usually 3 to 6 months of
antibiotics and folic acid (also called
folate) supplements. People with vitamin
B12 deficiency will receive vitamin
supplements as well. people can expect to
feel better within about 3-6 weeks after
treatment has begun. It is a fairly rare
condition, affecting about 1 in 1 million
people within 30 degrees of the equator.
Travelors need not worry, as few
infections have been seen in travelers
visiting these areas for six months or
less.
The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made.
Schizophreniahealth
This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
