| Sprue means that you cannot absorb nutrients | | | | intestines to heal with this diet, so most doctors |
| from the food that you eat, causing vitamin and | | | | prescribe dapsone or sulfapyridine which usually |
| mineral deficiency, diarrhea and cramping. There | | | | stops the diarrhea within a few days. You must |
| are two major types of sprue. Celiac sprue | | | | also be checked for intestinal cancers that are |
| means that a component of food called gliadin or | | | | associated with celiac sprue. On the other hand, |
| gluten causes your own immunity to attack and | | | | your blood tests for antibodies to gliadin may be |
| damage the inner linings of your intestines so that | | | | negative and you may continue to have |
| you cannot absorb many components of food. | | | | symptoms after taking dapsone or sulfapyridine. |
| You may also develop a blistery skin rash. | | | | You may have an infection called tropical sprue. |
| Tropical sprue means that you have an infection | | | | Not all doctors will treat you with antibiotics, but |
| that causes the same results. Usually your doctor | | | | some may prescribe quinolones or metronidazole. |
| will draw blood to see if you have antibodies | | | | Nutritional deficiencies such as lack of B12, iron, |
| against gliadin and endomysial cells (8), and | | | | etc. may need to be treated with vitamin and |
| perhaps biopsy the inner lining of your intestines. | | | | mineral pills. |
| Your doctor will test for infection. | | | | People who need to avoid the gluten-containing |
| Those with celiac sprue are told to avoid foods | | | | grains can eat rice, corn, wild rice, quinoa and |
| that contain gliadin or gluten, which is found in | | | | millet. A trial with small amounts of oats can be |
| wheat, rye and barley. Most recent research | | | | given. Kamut and spelt are ancient varieties of |
| shows that most people with celiac sprue can eat | | | | wheat, and should be avoided. Triticale is a hybrid |
| oats safely. | | | | of wheat and rye which should also be avoided. |
| It can take more than six months for your | | | | |