Conditions That Cause EPI-Like Symptoms
EPI’s symptoms mirror those of many other digestive health problems.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is marked by abdominal pain, bloating, bouts of diarrhea or constipation, and flatulence. While fatty stools, or steatorrhea, are a telltale sign of EPI, people with IBS are less likely to see this. As with EPI, IBS symptoms tend to occur after eating, but IBS symptoms may also be triggered by stress, infection, certain foods, and other factors.
Crohn’s Disease
A type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s is marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract, such as the end of the small intestine. As with EPI, people who have Crohn’s often experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, steatorrhea, and weight loss. But Crohn’s also typically causes bloody stools, fever, and anemia, a decrease in red blood cells that can cause fatigue.
Ulcerative Colitis
People with either EPI or ulcerative colitis can experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, but ulcerative colitis doesn’t typically cause bloating, flatulence, and steatorrhea. It can, however, trigger mucus in stools, like IBS. Ulcerative colitis is more similar to Crohn’s in that it’s an IBD, but with colitis, inflammation is located in the large intestine. The two conditions also share symptoms such as anemia, loss of appetite, and bloody stools, as well as some that affect the skin, eyes, and joints.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, and EPI have many symptoms in common. Like people with EPI, those with celiac disease often experience bloating, diarrhea, and weight loss. People with celiac disease may also have anemia, and some will feel constipated. While you may primarily notice symptoms of EPI after eating foods that contain fat, people with celiac disease may experience symptoms when eating bread, pasta, cereal, and other foods that contain gluten.
Infections
In some instances, bowel problems may be a sign of excess bacteria in your small intestine. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, a condition in which the bacteria in the small intestine grow out of control, shares many of the symptoms of EPI. These symptoms may include bloating, nausea, and diarrhea.
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