Enteropathy refers to any disease of the intestine, particularly the small intestine, that results in inflammation, malabsorption, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Enteropathies are based on their etiology: environmental, immune-mediated, infectious, and congenital causes.
Environmental enteropathy (EE), also known as tropical enteropathy or environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), is a chronic condition prevalent in low-income countries.
Environmental enteropathy Is characterized by increased intestinal permeability, mucosal inflammation, and malabsorption, often without overt diarrhea.
EE is associated with poor sanitation and chronic exposure to fecal-oral contamination, leading to systemic inflammation and impaired growth and cognitive development in children.
Immune-mediated enteropathies include conditions such as celiac disease and autoimmune enteropathy.
These are caused by inappropriate immune responses to dietary antigens or autoantigens, leading to chronic intestinal inflammation, villous atrophy, and malabsorption.
Celiac disease is the most common form, triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals.
Infectious enteropathies are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, leading to acute or chronic intestinal inflammation and diarrhea.
Examples include infections by Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, and various enteric bacteria.
Congenital enteropathies are rare, inherited disorders that affect the structure or function of enterocytes, leading to severe malabsorption and often requiring long-term parenteral nutrition.