Common symptoms include: | Tummy and back pain | Unexplained weight loss | Indigestion Other symptoms include: | Loss of appetite | Changes in bowel habits - including
steatorrhoea (pale, smelly poo that may float), diarrhoea (loose, watery poo) or constipation (problems emptying your bowels) | Jaundice | Recently diagnosed diabetes | Problems digesting food - such as feeling full quickly when eating, bloating, burping or lots of wind | Nausea and vomiting
Clinically, PFIC usually manifests in the first year of life and is characterised by jaundice, severe pruritus, hepatosplenomegaly,
steatorrhoea, and retardation of growth and mental development.
Bile acids are recycled with almost perfect yield (approximately 95%) [47], and their malabsorption can cause congenital diarrhoea,
steatorrhoea, and reduced plasma cholesterol levels.
Walls, "
Steatorrhoea and sub-total villous atrophy complicating mefenamic acid therapy," British Journal of Clinical Practice, vol.
The complications of the Rapunzel syndrome ranges from attacks of incomplete pyloric obstruction to complete obstruction of the bowel, perforation of bowel leading to peritonitis and mortality.3,7 Trichobezoars with small bowel extensions may produce other complications, namely bleeding, perforation, protein losing enteropathies,
steatorrhoea, pancreatitis, appendicitis, and intussusceptions.3,6,7
Symptoms such as vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea or
steatorrhoea, and pale stools further identify those children at risk of poor intake and malabsorption.
Intestinal reticulosis as a complication of idiopathic
steatorrhoea. Gut.
Since the organism involves basically large intestine, its role in production of malabsorption was not thought of till Lifitz and Holman [1] suggested that rapid transit time through bowel results in
steatorrhoea in some individuals.
Constipation can also be a presenting feature of CD, as was seen in a study of 112 children where >30% of children did not have
steatorrhoea (fatty stool) at the time of diagnosis and this was probably due to anorexia, normal or increased ileal function and decreased intestinal motility (Egan-Mitchell, 1972).
Therapeutic potential and clinical efficacy of acid-resistant fungal lipase in the treatment of pancreatic
steatorrhoea due to cystic fibrosis.
Symptoms include increased fat in stools (
steatorrhoea), pate foul smelling, oily stools that are difficult to flush, abdominal discomfort, gas and bloating, diarrhoea and weight loss.
About a third of patients are symptomatic and may present with non specific symptoms which manifest as recurrent pancreatitis,
steatorrhoea, diabetes and weight loss.