Malabsorption medical therapy

Malabsorption
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Overview
Classification Infection Structural defect Digestive failure Systemic disease Iatrogenic
Differentiating Malabsorption from other Diseases

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Medical Therapy

Treatment is directed largely towards management of underlying cause.

• Replacement of nutrients, electrolytes and fluid may be necessary. In severe defeciency hospital admission may be required for parentral administration, often advice from dietician is sought. People whose absorptive surface are severely limited from disease or surgery may need long term total parenteral nutrition. Pancreatic enzymes are supplemented orally in insufficiencies.
• Dietary modification is important in some conditions. Life long avoidance of particular food or food constituents may be needed in celiac disease or lactose intolerence.
• Bacterial overgrowth usually responds well to courses of antibiotics. Use of cholestyramine to bind bile acid will help reducing diarrhea in bile acid malabsorption.

Contraindicated medications

Malabsorption is considered an absolute contraindication to the use of the following medications:

• Ergocalciferol