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If you observe or experience any of the signs or symptoms of malabsorption in yourself or your child, and/or are at risk for the condition, see your doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is critical to help treat the condition and prevent long-term damage, especially in children.  Your doctor may be able to diagnose malabsorption based on a detailed patient history.  Your doctor may also use a variety of tests to help diagnose malabsorption. It’s important to recognize your specific symptoms and write them down before you see your doctor. Not only will this help you best explain the symptoms you’re experiencing and how you’re feeling, but will also ensure that you don’t forget potentially important information.  Tell your doctor about the symptoms you experience and how they feel. For example, if you’re experiencing bloating and cramping, use descriptive words like severe, dull, or strong. You can use these kinds of terms to describe many physical symptoms.  Mention how long you’ve had your symptoms. The more specific date you can pinpoint, the easier it may be for your doctor to figure out what is causing your symptoms.  Note how frequently you have or notice symptoms. This information can also help your doctor figure out what’s causing your symptoms. For example, you could say “I have flatulence and bulky stools every day,” or “I have edema in my feet occasionally.” Let your doctor know about any changes in your life, such as increased stress. Provide your doctor a list of your medications, which may also exacerbate asthma. If your doctor suspects that you have malabsorption, they may order tests after conducting your physical exam, asking a series of questions about your symptoms, and ruling out other causes. These tests can help confirm a diagnosis of malabsorption. It’s likely you will need to provide a stool sample for testing when your doctors suspects malabsorption. This can help confirm the diagnosis and help formulate an effective treatment plan.  The stool sample will be tested for excess fat since many malabsorption cases result in the poor absorption of fat. Your doctor may suggest ingesting excess fat over one to three days, and samples will be collected throughout this period of time.  The sample may also be tested for bacteria and parasites. Your doctor may order urine or blood tests if they suspect malabsorption. These tests analyze and can spot specific nutrient deficiencies, including anemia, low protein levels, vitamin deficiencies, and mineral deficiencies. Your doctor will likely look at your plasma viscosity, vitamin B12 levels, red cell folate levels, iron status, clotting abilities, calcium levels, antibodies, and serum magnesium levels. Your doctor may want to examine the extent of damage caused by malabsorption. They may order that you get an X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan to see your intestines more closely.  X-rays and CT scans make images of the inside of your abdomen it easier for your doctor to identify not only if you have malabsorption, but also exactly where the problem area(s) of the condition are. This can help them better formulate a treatment plan.  Your doctor may order an X-ray, which will require you to sit still while a technician makes images of your small bowel. This can help better see damage in this lower section of your intestine.  Your doctor may order a CT scan, which will require you to lie inside of a large scanner for a few minutes. A CT scan can show how severe the damage is to your intestines and help assess the type of treatment needed.  An abdominal ultrasound might be used to diagnose problems with the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, intestinal wall, or lymph nodes.  You might be asked to drink a barium solution that will allow technicians to view structural abnormalities more clearly. Your doctor may suggest using a diagnostic breath hydrogen test. This can detect lactose intolerance and similar sugar-based malabsorption conditions and can help your doctor formulate a treatment plan.  During the test, you will be be asked to breathe into a special collection container.  You will then be instructed to drink a lactose, glucose, or other sugar solution.   Additional samples of your breath will be collected at 30-minute intervals and checked for bacterial overgrowth and hydrogen. Abnormal levels of hydrogen indicate an abnormality. Less invasive tests could indicate a potential problem in your bowel lining due to malabsorption, and your doctor may order a biopsy the intestinal lining for further laboratory analysis. The biopsy sample is usually taken during an endoscopy or colonoscopy. Your doctor may prescribe a course of treatment for a diagnosed case of malabsorption based on the severity of your case. There are different options that range from taking vitamins to hospitalization for severe cases. Be aware that even with early treatment, it may take a while to heal your body from malabsorption. Once your doctor can diagnose which nutrients are not being absorbed by your body, they may prescribe taking vitamin and nutrient supplements and fluids to replace those lost.  Mild to moderate cases might be treated with oral supplements or a short dosage of nutrient-rich IV fluids. Your doctor may recommend a nutrient-dense diet for you to follow. The nutrients you're currently lacking will likely be increased in this diet plan. Some causes of malabsorption are treatable by healing underlying causes. The exact treatment you need will vary based on the underlying condition causing your malabsorption, however, so work with your doctor to determine the best treatment for your particular circumstances.  Infections and parasites can usually be eliminated with medication, which may cure the malabsorption completely. Celiac disease requires you to remove gluten from your diet. Malabsorption from lactose intolerance may require avoiding dairy products. Pancreatic insufficiency may require the long-term usage of oral enzymes. Vitamin deficiencies may require the long-term use of vitamin supplements. Some causes, like blockages and blind loop syndrome, can require surgical intervention.
See your doctor. Describe your symptoms to your doctor. Get tests and a diagnosis. Provide a stool sample. Have your blood or urine tested. Prepare to have imaging tests. Consider hydrogen breath tests. Collect cell samples from a biopsy. Get treatment. Replace the nutrients previously lost. Work with your doctor to treat the underlying condition.