steatorrhea
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- 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