Tropical Sprue: Diagnostic Challenge in an Ethiopian Adult Patient

Residents and travelers to the tropics are susceptible to tropical sprue (TS), a post-infectious disease of the small intestine marked by a malabsorption condition. Since TS can be mistaken for common diarrheal illnesses, particularly in nonendemic areas, diagnosis is still difficult. Here, we describe a 28-year-old guy who had severe weight loss and watery diarrhea for two years. For two years, he experienced sporadic cramping in his right lower abdomen and epigastrium. He occasionally experienced melena as well. Duodenal villi atrophy was discovered by upper GI endoscopy, and the biopsy result demonstrated villi atrophy characteristics. The patient's condition improved after beginning empirical treatment for tropical sprue.