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Whipple's disease Causes and Risks:
The cause is probably a bacterial infection. The disease affects primarily middle-aged men, and the onset of symptoms is usually slow. Without treatment it is usually fatal. Risk factors are unknown. The incidence is 1 out of 100,000 people.
Prevention:
Prevention is unknown.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
Primary tests: This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
Treatment:
Prolonged antibiotic therapy with an agent that can treat cental nervous system infections is used. The reappearance of symptoms may indicate drug-resistant organisms, requiring a change of antibiotics.
Correction of nutritional deficiencies caused by the malabsorption are made with dietary supplements.
Prognosis:
Without treatment, the condition is usually fatal. Treatment improves the chance of a good outcome.
Complications:
- nutritional deficiencies
- weight loss
- reappearance of symptoms suggesting drug resistance
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call your health care provider if there is persistent abdominal pain and diarrhea .
If being treated for Whipple's disease, call if symptoms worsen (or do not improve), if symptoms reappear, or if new symptoms develop.
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