Profile of chronic small-bowel diarrhea in adults in Western India: a hospital-based study.
BACKGROUND
Small-bowel diarrhea is reported to account for 10% of all cases of chronic diarrhea. Data on the etiology and clinical presentation of chronic small-bowel diarrhea in adult Indians is scarce.


METHODS
50 patients (mean age 32.8 years; 26 men) with chronic small bowel diarrhea were evaluated clinically, and investigated to determine etiology. The diagnosis of small-bowel diarrhea was based on history, stool volume and associated symptoms.


RESULTS
Abdominal pain (n=22, 44%) and weight loss (n=37, 74%) were the most common symptoms, apart from diarrhea. Anemia (70%) and hypoalbuminemia (48%) were other important biochemical abnormalities. Intestinal tuberculosis (26%) and celiac disease (26%) were the most common causes of chronic small-bowel diarrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Tuberculosis of intestine and celiac disease are common causes of small-bowel diarrhea in our population. Tropical sprue seems to be a rare cause.
Thakur
Bhagwan
B
Department of Gastroenterology, Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai.
Mishra
Peeyush
P
Desai
Nutan
N
Thakur
Sanjeev
S
Alexander
Jacob
J
Sawant
Prabha
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007421:Intestine, Small; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged