Whipples disease

     Whipples disease is a very rare disease that effects the digestive system. It is caused by the Tropheryma Whipplei bacteria and can spread to the heart, lungs, brain, joints and eyes and can be very life threatening.

   There is no known way to prevent Whipples and is more common in middle aged white men between the ages of 40 and 60. In places without fresh water or good sanitation people have a higher chance to catch Whipples.

   The bacteria lead to the development of internal sores and make body tissues to thicken. When the villi in the small intestine begin to thicken and change shape they can not absorb nutrients effectively.

   early symptoms;
- joint pain/ inflammation
- diarrhea sometimes bloody
- weight loss
- stomach pain/ bloating
-decreased vision/ eye pain
-fever
- fatigue
- anemia ( low RBC count)

Symptoms when the disease gets worse

- skin discolouration
- inflamed lymph nodes
- chronic cough
- pain in the chest
- swelling in the sac surrounding the heart
- heart failure or murmurs
- problems seeing
-dementia
-numbness
-insomnia
- muscle weakness or tic
-problems walking and remembering

   Whipples is treated with anti-biotic and a high calorie diet.