Are the symptoms of tropical sprue severe?

Tropical sprue: It can be. The symptoms of tropical sprue -- not to be confused with celiac sprue -- can be severe, which can include severe diarrhea, ongoing fluid losses, malabsorption of nutrients, and profound weight loss. If left untreated, it can lead to death. The lining of the intestines is inflamed and damaged. Interestingly, the cause is still unknown but thought to be related to an infectious trigger.