Whipple's Disease - Facts and Information

Whipple’s disease is a rare, systemic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei.1 First described by George Hoyt Whipple in 190723 and commonly considered a gastrointestinal disorder, Whipple’s disease . Describes the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Whipples disease.

Whippleaposs Disease Whipples disease involves a rare form of bacterial infection that primarily affects a persons small intestine. Whipple’s disease: Symptoms – MayoClinic.com Whipple39s disease Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, treatment of this rare primarily gastrointestinal infection.

Symptoms

Classic symptoms of Whipple’s disease include:

? joint pain

? chronic (long-term) diarrhea

? weight loss

? abdominal pain and bloating

? fever

? fatigue

? anemia

Joint pain in Whipple’s disease may persist for years, with or without inflammation, before the appearance of other symptoms.

Other less common symptoms may include darkening of the skin, enlargement of the lymph nodes, chronic cough, chest pain, pericarditis—the inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart and heart failure.

In some people with Whipple’s disease, nervous system problems may occur including

? eye (vision) problems

? dementia

? facial numbness

? headache

? muscle weakness or twitching

? difficulty walking

? memory problems