Definition

Noun: A medical condition characterized by the presence of excessive fat in the feces. The stool is typically frothy, foul-smelling, and floats due to the high fat content. It is a symptom of disorders affecting fat digestion or absorption.

Usage

This is a technical medical term used primarily in clinical and diagnostic contexts. - It describes a specific clinical sign observed in patients. - It is used to discuss symptoms, diagnose conditions, or evaluate treatment efficacy related to malabsorption.

Examples

• The patient's chronic diarrhea and steatorrhea led to further testing for pancreatic insufficiency.
• A key indicator of cystic fibrosis in infants is the presence of steatorrhea.
• The doctor explained that the steatorrhea was likely due to the patient's celiac disease impairing nutrient absorption.

Advanced Usage

• Qualitative vs. Quantitative: In detailed medical analysis, steatorrhea can be described qualitatively (based on appearance) or quantitatively (measured by fat content in a stool sample over a specific period).
• Pathophysiological Context: The term is often used when discussing the pathophysiology of diseases like chronic pancreatitis, bile duct obstruction, or Crohn's disease.

Variants and Related Words

• Steatorrhoea (noun): An alternate spelling, primarily used in British English.
• Steatorrheic (adjective): Pertaining to or characterized by steatorrhea. (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Fatty stool: A less technical, descriptive synonym.
• Malabsorption of fat: A phrase describing the underlying cause rather than the symptom itself.

Different Meanings

This word has a single, specific meaning in medical terminology and does not have common non-medical definitions.

Idioms / Phrases

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this technical medical term.

Noun

1. the presence of greater than normal amounts of fat in the feces which are frothy and foul smelling and floating; a symptom of disorders of fat metabolism and malabsorption syndrome