Baylor Health Care System
 

Tropical sprue

Definition

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

Causes

The cause of this disease is unknown, but it may be caused by an infection. The condition affects residents of or visitors to the tropics. Risk factors are:

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

Review Date: 2/20/2008
Reviewed By: Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit.

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