Whipple's disease

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors

When to seek medical advice
Tests and diagnosis
Complications
Treatments and drugs

Definition

Whipple's disease is a rare bacterial infection that most often affects your gastrointestinal system. Whipple's disease interferes with normal digestion, impairing the breakdown of foods such as fats and carbohydrates and hampering your body's ability to absorb nutrients.

In addition to affecting your intestinal tract, Whipple's disease can infect other organs, including your brain, heart, joints and eyes.

Without proper treatment, Whipple's disease can be serious or fatal. But no matter which part of your body Whipple's disease affects, a course of antibiotics can provide successful treatment.

Symptoms