Whipple Disease | Medtick
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Whipple Disease

What is it?

Whipple disease is a rare bacterial infection that most often affects your joints and digestive system.

  • The bacteria involved attacks the intestine damages the intestinal wall (where there is hairlike projections (villi) that line the small intestine)  it is here  where the breakdown of foods, such as fats and carbohydrates take place  and hence affects one to absorb nutrients.
  • It tends to affect:
    • White people in North America and Europe
    • Farmers and other people who work outdoors and have frequent contact with sewage and wastewater (may be associated with occupational exposure to animals and soil)

Diagnosis tests

  • Small Intestinal Biopsy:
    • Detect foamy macrophages
    • Detect Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) positive macrophages
    • Yellow-white plaques
    • Thickened mucosal folds
    • Abnormal intestinal lining
  • PCR Testing (Molecular confirmation)
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Blood tests;
    • Anaemia
    • Low albumin (hypoalbuminemia)
    • malnutrition

Cause

  • Bacteria: Tropheryma whipplei

Symptom

  • Diarrhoea?
  • Stomach rumbling?
  • Fat present in the stool/oily stools?
  • Abdominal cramping and pain, which may worsen after eating food/meals?
  • Unexplained weight loss?
  • Inflamed joints, particularly the ankles, knees and wrists?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Anaemia?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • Swelling of the gums (gingivitis)?
  • Swelling, pain and inflammation of the tongue, change of colour and texture of the tongue?
  • Cracks at the corner of the mouth (angular cheilitis)?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks and/or breathing difficulties?
  • Swollen lymph glands (lumps on side of neck, armpits, and groin) and/or recurring mouth ulcers?
  • Skin darkening (hyperpigmentation) in areas exposed to the sun and in scars?
  • Chest pain?
  • Low blood pressure?
  • Enlarged spleen?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait phone for an ambulance if have/develop:

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Whipple Disease in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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  • Cleveland Clinic

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  • Drugs.com

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  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

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  • Verywell Health

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  • Nathnac

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  • DR Axe

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