How to Diagnose Malabsorbtion Syndrome

Malabsorption means impaired absorption of nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract. It can result from defects in the intestinal walls or impaired digestion of food within the intestinal lumen. The net outcome of malabsorbtion is weight loss, deficiency states, deranged physiology such as menstrual irregularities and failure to thrive. Follow these steps to know if you have malabsorbtion syndrome.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Knowledge
• observation
• Labs
• Physician

1. Check if you have lost weight despite having a normal appetite.
2. Notice if you are passing pale and voluminous stool. Diarrhea without flatulence, fatty stools (steatorrhea), acidic stool (from laboratory PH), milk intolerance may be seen as well.
3. Look for edema (swelling of body) with or without muscle atrophy, haematoma due to bleeding disorders. This may be seen at later stages.
4. Watch for presence of neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling and balance problems.
5. Look for night blindness. This is due to vitamin deficiency.
6. Watch out for fractures. Patients often have fragile bones due to vitamin and calcium deficiency.
7. See if you have inflammation of the tongue, mouth and lips (typically at the corners).
8. Work with your doctor to order the following labs:
   
   Blood counts
   Blood electrolytes
   Kidney and liver functions
   Stool fat
   Protein levels in blood (which are low)
   Hydrogen in breath
   Macrocytic anemia
   Vitamin B12 levels
   Serum methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels
   Serum iron and ferritin levels
   Serum calcium levels
   Serum alkaline phosphatase levels
   Bone scan
   Serum carotene levels
   Prothrombin time