Whipple's disease often occurs in the gastrointestinal system, but it can also affect major organs, including the brain and heart. The disease, which develops slowly, only affects 1 out of a million people every year, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cause
The bacterium Tropheryma whipplei causes Whipple's disease when it enters the small intestine and forms lesions. The infection spreads throughout the body over time. People with a genetic immune system defect might be more likely to get the disease when exposed to these bacteria.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal cramping, fatigue, anemia, joint inflammation and weakness. Other symptoms that occur less frequently include cough, enlarged spleen and lymph nodes, heart murmurs and seizures.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic procedures include a physical exam, a biopsy taken from the small intestine and blood tests. Diagnosis often occurs in the late stages of Whipple's disease.
Treatment
Treatment involves the use of antibiotics for one or two years to destroy the bacteria. Symptoms generally subside in one to three months. Ibuprofen can provide joint pain relief. Severe cases might require corticosteroids. Nutritional deficiency can be treated with dietary supplements.
Warning
Whipple's disease can cause irreversible damage and lead to fatality when it reaches the central nervous system. Preventing the infection from spreading requires prompt medical treatment.
Tags: Whipple disease, bacteria Symptoms, disease when, often occurs, small intestine
