Malabsorption Syndrome

 

Malabsorption Syndrome 

Definition

 It is a condition chracterised by inadequate absorption of products of digestion by the  small intestine.

Aetiology

 

1.Tropical Spru;It is found in India and china.Its exact aetiology is not known.

2.Idiopathic steatorrhoea: There is failure of absorption of fat so that it is passed out in stools.Its exact cause is not known.It might be due to tuberculosis or malignancy of the intestine.

3.Celiac disease: It is found in children and sometimes in adults.There is a failure of digestion of gluten in wheat.

 

Clinical features

1.There is chronic diarrhea. The volume of stools is large. It is oily,frothy,pale,and foul smelling.

2.Low body weight . 

3.Easy fatiguability.

4.Loss of appetite.

5.A child with celiac disease  has abdominal distention and retardation of growth.

6.Features of vitamin deficiency are seen ,such as the following:-

          .Anaemia due to deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid.

          .Tetany due to deficiency  of vitamin D.

          .Stomatitis and peripheral neuritis due to deficiency of vitamin B.

          .Haemorrhagic disease due to deficiency of vitamin.

7.Anaemia due to deficiency of iron.

 

Acute Intussusception

Definition

 

It is a condition characterized by passage of a segment of the intestine into adjacent part of the intestine.

 

Clinical features

1.It is seen in infants who are breast fed.

2.There is a sudden onset of acute intestinal obstruction.

3.There is excessive crying due to abdominal colic. The child draws up its legs towards its abdomen while crying and also becomes pale.

4.There is frequent and forceful vomiting.

5.Initially stool is passed per rectum.Then only blood and mucus(currant jelly stool) is passed.

6.A hard lump is palpable abdominally.It is also felt on per rectal examination.A lot of blood is found on the finger when it is withdrawn from the rectum.

 

Treatment

The intussusception is reduced surgically.If that is not possible and the affected  segment bowel has become gangrenous,Resection and end-to-end anastomosis is done.

 

Megacolon

1.It is a rare disorder.

2.It is seen in both children and adults.

3.It is due to a disturbance of the nerve supply to the colon. The rectosigmoid becomes thick and with narrow lumen,so that the colon above that gets dilated.

 

Clinical features

1.There is severe constipation.

2. The abdomen is distended.

3.In children,stool may be passed once in several weeks.

 

Treatment

It is treated surgically.

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