Tropical Sprue
Tropica of l D l is a e rn a s Alvarez et al., J Trop Dis 2014, 2:1 u e o s J Journal of Tropical Diseases DOI: 10.4172/2329-891X.1000130 ISSN: 2329-891X Review Article OpenOpen Access Access Tropical Sprue John J Alvarez1*, Jonathan Zaga-Galante2, Adriana Vergara-Suarez2 and Charles W Randall3 1Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA 2Anahuac University School of Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico, USA 3Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA Abstract Tropical Sprue has been a disease of decreasing significance over the past few decades. It’s been postulated that easier access to antibiotics, improved sanitation and better hygiene practices around the globe may account for this apparent decline in frequency of cases seen today. Despite such speculation, it is unknown if the incidence of Tropical Sprue is truly declining, or if cases are simply being under-reported or perhaps even misdiagnosed. In reality, the current literature supports the theory that Tropical Sprue continues to be a significant cause of malabsorption in certain geographical areas of the world. This study aims to review the existing body of literature on Tropical Sprue and to provide a contemporary look into the disease and how it is managed today. Keywords: Tropical Sprue (TS); Tropical malabsorption syndromes; Epidemiology Chronic diarrhea; Vitamin deficiency TS is endemic in certain tropical regions of the world. Epidemic Introduction forms of TS are rarely seen today [16]. Seen primarily in adults, TS affects residents, expatriates and tourists of tropical regions classically One of the more mysterious and still rather poorly understood diseases including South East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, West Africa, seen in the tropical regions of the world is Tropical Sprue (TS).
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