title: Steatorrhea, a simple and rapid method of diagnosis.
abstract: A simple and rapid method for the diagnosis of steatorrhea is described. The method is based on the assessment of the difference of specific gravity and lipophilic property between a normal stool and that in steatorrhea, using a benzene-NaBr system. The stool samples are dried, pulverized, and then investigated. Steatorrhea is defined either as a fat or more in a 24-hour sample. Stool samples of 71 infants and children were examined. Among these were 23 healthy subjects, 10 with upper respiratory tract infections, and 6 with pneumonia. A further 31 children had celiac disease, 9 of them were on a gluten-free diet, and one child had cystic fibrosis. The procedure described renders single stool samples suitable for the assessment of steatorrhea. As a screening test the method proved to be rapid and accurate in the diagnosis of steatorrhea.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008722:Methods; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids