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What is Whipple's disease?
What causes Whipple's
disease?
Who gets Whipple's disease?
What are the signs and symptoms of
Whipple's disease?
How is Whipple's disease diagnosed?
How is Whipple's
disease treated?
What is the likely outcome for people with Whipple's
disease?
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What is Whipple's disease?
Whipple's disease is a rare bacterial infection primarily affecting
the small intestine. It can also affect the heart, lungs, brain, joints, and
eyes. Left untreated, Whipple's disease is fatal.
What causes
Whipple's disease?
Bacteria called Tropheryma whipplei (T. whipplei)
cause Whipple's disease. T. whipplei infection can cause internal sores, also
called lesions, and the thickening of tissues. Villi, which are tiny fingerlike
projections that line the small intestine, take on an abnormal, clublike
appearance.
The damaged intestinal lining fails to properly absorb nutrients, causing
diarrhea and malnutrition.
Scientists are unsure how T. whipplei
infects people. One theory is that some people are more vulnerable to
Whipple's disease--probably due to genetic factors that influence the body's
immune system. This theory is supported by the existence of a relatively
high number of asymptomatic carriers--people who have the bacteria in their
bodies but don't get sick. Also, the bacteria are more common in the
environment--showing up in soil and sewage wastewater--than would be predicted
based on the rareness of the disease. And while multiple cases of Whipple's
disease have occurred within the same family, no documentation exists of a
person-to-person transmission.
Who gets Whipple's disease?
Anyone can get Whipple's disease, but it is more common in middle-aged
Caucasian men.
What are the signs and
symptoms of Whipple's disease?
Signs and symptoms of Whipple's
disease vary widely.
Classic signs and symptoms of Whipple's disease
include
periodic joint pain, with or without inflammation, that may
persist for years before the appearance of other symptoms
chronic
diarrhea, with or without blood
weight loss
abdominal pain and
bloating
fever
fatigue
anemia--a condition in which the blood has a
lower-than-normal number of red blood cells
Less common signs and
symptoms of Whipple's disease include
darkening of the skin
enlarged
lymph nodes
chronic cough
chest pain
pericarditis--inflammation of
the membrane surrounding the heart
heart failure
Neurologic
symptoms occur in some people diagnosed with Whipple's disease and can mimic
symptoms of almost any other neurologic condition.
Neurologic
symptoms of Whipple's disease include
Vision problems
Dementia
Facial numbness
Headache
Muscle weakness or twitching
difficulty
walking
Memory problems
Strokes
Dysautonomia
OpthalomplegiaSymptoms of neurologic, lung, or heart disease occasionally appear without gastrointestinal symptoms.
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