ICD-11 classes
13 Diseases of the digestive system
Diseases of small intestine
DA96 — Intestinal malabsorption or protein-losing enteropathy
DA96.0 — Intestinal malabsorption
DA96.01 — Tropical sprue

ICD-11 DA96.01 — Tropical sprue

Tropical sprue is a syndrome involving the entire small intestine that cause acute or chronic diarrhoea and malabsorption of nutrients of progressive severity that results in malnutrition and anaemia due to folic acid deficiency. The disorder occurs only among persons (mostly adults) who visit, or are residents of, certain tropical and subtropical areas. Histological changes consist of lengthening of the crypt area and broadening and shortening of the villi with chronic inflammation of small intestine. The cause of tropical sprue is not known, but excess levels of certain types of bacteria in the small intestines has been suggested, and antimicrobial therapy may result in cure of the intestinal abnormalities.

The diagnosis excludes nothing.

It has no clarifying diagnoses.