Q. What is steatorrhea and how is it treated?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Steatorrhea, also known as fatty diarrhea, is a condition in which the person has frequent and loose stools that contain excessive fat. Normally, the body produces bile acids that break down fats which are then absorbed by the small intestine. However, if something interferes with this process—such as malabsorption or maldigestion disorders—then steatorrhea can occur.
The most commonly associated symptoms of steatorrhea are soft to watery stool that may appear greasy and float in the toilet bowl; foul-smelling stool; pale and bulky stools; loose stools after taking fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E & K); bloating; abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting.
To diagnose steatorrhea, tests such as faecal elastase test or faecal fat test should be taken since it’s essential to identify why there isn’t enough absorption happening from your diet so you can be treated effectively. Other tests may include hydrogen breath tests for lactose intolerance screening, testing for coeliac disease markers etc., depending on what is thought to be causing malabsorption or maldigestion in a patient.
The treatment approach usually depends on what is thought to be causing your symptoms but may include medicines such as pancreatic enzymes replacers to improve digestion and help absorb any remaining food particles in your gut correctly or antibiotics based on what infection has been identified through lab results like bacterial overgrowth etc., apart from dietary modifications including reducing high-fat foods intake before meals along with eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day rather than large meals at one time etc., adequate hydration drinking fluids rich in electrolytes , probiotics supplementation consisting of prebiotics with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain etc . Exercise plays an important role too - even mild physical activity lasting around 30 minutes three times a week will encourage digestion of foods amongst other benefits associated apart from lifestyle changes like quitting smoking if applicable which could interfere with normal digestive system functioning .
Related Questions
-
What lifestyle changes or habits can help manage or prevent Tachycardia episodes? | Secondmedic
-
How do pacemakers interact with other medical devices, such as MRI machines or airport security scanners? | Secondmedic
-
What is high blood pressure, and how is it defined medically? | Secondmedic
-
Cardiology Heart disease Can a person with a pacemaker get an MR