Some people diagnosed with celiac disease who have avoided gluten for a long time can tolerate reintroducing it into their diet, possibly because the diagnosis was incorrect. Trying to reintroduce gluten may be reasonable, but if symptoms recur, gluten should be removed immediately from the diet. Gluten-free diets substantially improve the prognosis for children and adults. Whether this risk is diminished by strictly adhering to a gluten-free diet isn't known. Tropical Sprue Tropical sprue is an acquired disorder in which abnormalities of the lining of the small intestine lead to malabsorption and deficiencies of many nutrients.
Tropical sprue occurs chiefly in the Caribbean, southern India, and Southeast Asia.
Both natives and newcomers may be affected. Symptoms and Diagnosis Light-colored stool, diarrhea, and weight loss are typical symptoms of tropical sprue. So is a sore tongue from vitamin B 2 deficiency. Other symptoms of malabsorption also may develop. A deficiency of prothrombin, which is important in blood clotting, leads to easy bruising and prolonged bleeding after an injury.