Steatorrhea is not consistent with which of the following?

Steatorrhea is not consistent with which of the following?

• A. C. diff
• B. Giardia lamblia
• C. Celiac disease
• D. Cystic fibrosis

Answer: (A)

Steatorrhea signals fat malabsorption, meaning fats aren’t being absorbed properly in the gut. This happens with conditions that disrupt the small intestinal absorptive surface or pancreatic enzyme delivery. Celiac disease damages the intestinal villi, reducing absorptive area; cystic fibrosis causes pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, leading to insufficient fat digestion; Giardia lamblia interferes with intestinal fat absorption through mucosal inflammation. In contrast, Clostridioides difficile infection causes toxin-driven colitis with watery diarrhea, not fat malabsorption, so steatorrhea is not a typical feature. Therefore, steatorrhea is not consistent with C. difficile infection.

Steatorrhea signals fat malabsorption, meaning fats aren’t being absorbed properly in the gut. This happens with conditions that disrupt the small intestinal absorptive surface or pancreatic enzyme delivery. Celiac disease damages the intestinal villi, reducing absorptive area; cystic fibrosis causes pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, leading to insufficient fat digestion; Giardia lamblia interferes with intestinal fat absorption through mucosal inflammation. In contrast, Clostridioides difficile infection causes toxin-driven colitis with watery diarrhea, not fat malabsorption, so steatorrhea is not a typical feature. Therefore, steatorrhea is not consistent with C. difficile infection.