Antibiotic-responsive malabsorption: a tropical sprue-like syndrome in countries with temperate climates

Antibiotic-responsive malabsorption is prevalent in the tropics, but has been seen only sporadically in countries with temperate climates. We describe a 19-year-old Israeli patient who has never left the country and was hospitalized with shigellosis and malabsorption of fat and D-xylose. A short course of ampicillin reversed the malabsorption. The syndrome of antibiotic-responsive malabsorption in countries with temperate climates may well be underdiagnosed and should be looked for more actively.