Protracted diarrhea of unknown etiology in Israeli soldiers

Twenty-five Israeli soldiers, seen over a period of five years, suffered from diarrhea lasting from one month to three years. This was accompanied by weight loss and, in some cases, by evidence of malabsorption and/or mild abnormalities in small bowel and rectal biopsies. The etiology of the diarrhea is unknown, since a routine search for parasites or pathogenic bacteria was unrewarding. An infectious etiology is, however, most likely.