Aetiological and prognostic features in tropical sprue A study of 47 cases over a year period☆
Abstract
1.1. In a series of 47 cases of tropical sprue it is noted that there was a tendency for the cases to occur in small groups among personnel of individual units.
2.2. The months of greatest incidence of sprue in this series were those in which amoebic dysentery in the district was most prevalent—a time when intestinal infections are especially common., This and the previous point suggest that tropical sprue may be an infective disorder.
3.3. The possible infective agents would appear to be other than the organisms producing amoebic or bacillary dysentery.
4.4. After modern treatment the prognosis in tropical sprue over a 3-year period appears to be highly satisfactory. All 34 patients followed up were able to do their full duty—some heavy manual labour. The average increase in weight of the patients over the period was 24 lb. Any recurrences of spruelike symptoms such as diarrhoea or ulceration of the tongue had been very infrequent and transitory.
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aFirst Assistant, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College Hospital, London, UK
bLecturer in Clinical Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
☆ I wish to thank Dr. F. Murgatroyd for his criticism and advice, Dr. J. Martin for the statistical comments, the D.G.M.S., Royal Air Force, for permission to publish this paper, and Dr. C. C. Ungley for advice regarding the follow-up of the patients.
I am grateful to the University of Durham, Department of Medicine, for bearing the expenses of this investigation, which was mostly carried out while working on the University Medical Professorial Unit.
ABSTRACT