Whipple Disease & Whipple Procedure

Whipple DiseaseAn Overview of Whipple's Disease

Whipple 's disease is a very rare, infectious disease that causes malabsorption, an inadequate absorption of nutrients. The disease can affect any part of the body, but it occurs primarily in the small intestine.

Causes of Whipple's Disease

Whipple 's disease is caused by a bacterial infection of the small intestine; however, if given enough time and left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. The bacterium responsible for the infection is Tropheryma whippelii.

Who's At Risk?

The bacteria can infect anyone, but most cases of Whipple 's disease occur in Caucasian males between thirty and sixty years old.

What Exactly Happens?

Once the bacteria, Tropheryma whippelii, enters the body, lesions begin to appear in the small intestine. The wall tissue thickens, and the villi, which are responsible for aiding in the absorption process, are also damaged. This reduces the surface area of the small intestine causing malabsorption of nutrients.

Symptoms of Whipple's Disease

Whipple 's disease is a malabsorption disorder, so its symptoms are similar to many other malabsorption disorders. Symptoms include:
  • weight loss
  • fatigue
  • anemia
  • malnutrition
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • weakness.
Patients with Whipple 's disease also experience fever and arthritis. Whipple 's disease is a slow-developing disease so many of the malabsorption symptoms listed above don 't show up for years. People often have fever and arthritis years before any of the other symptoms show.
Depending on the extent of the infection and which organs are affected, other symptoms may show up as well. For example:
  • If the infection reaches the heart, the patient may experience heart murmurs.
  • If the infection reaches the liver, the patient may have an enlarged or inflamed liver.
  • If the infection reaches the brain, the patient may display neurological symptoms such as confusion, forgetfulness and memory loss.

Untreated Whipple 's Disease

Not seeking treatment for Whipple's disease is not a wise choice. The disease causes malnutrition and, if it 's left untreated for an extended period of time, it can prove to be fatal.

Diagnosing Whipple's Disease

A diagnosis of Whipple 's disease is made through a biopsy of the small intestine.

Treating Whipple 's Disease

The primary form of treatment for Whipple 's disease is antibiotics. The type and dosage of the antibiotic used is dependent on the location, spread and severity of the bacterial infection.
For patients suffering from severe nutritional deficiencies, dietary supplements may be given to alleviate some of the symptoms.
Symptoms normally disappear after one to three months of continuous treatment, but a full recovery doesn 't take place until approximately two years of continuous treatment. Even then, relapse is highly possible.

Seeing Double

Whipple 's disease and the Whipple procedure have nothing to do with one another. Both just had the benefit of being discovered or first described by a man named Whipple.
  • The bacteria that cause Whipple's disease were discovered by Nobel Prize winner George H. Whipple.
  • The Whipple procedure was first described by a surgeon named Allen O. Whipple.

The Whipple Procedure

The Whipple procedure, also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy, is a surgical procedure in which part of the pancreas is removed. The procedure is used to treat pancreatic cancer and a variety of other serious conditions involving the pancreas.
In the Whipple procedure, the gallbladder, the common bile duct, part of the duodenum (small intestine) and the head of the pancreas are removed. Depending on the situation, part of the stomach may also be removed.
The surgical procedure takes approximately four to seven hours. The patient is usually hospitalized for eight to ten days following the procedure. About one quarter of Whipple procedure patients struggle with malabsorption and are typically prescribed supplemental lipase which helps with the breakdown of fats in the intestines.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gastrointestinal Defects

Birth defects, also known as "congenital abnormalities," are structural defects in some part or system of the body that can affect the body's function. These congenital defects occur during fetal development, and are present in a baby from birth. Like other complex body systems, the gastrointestinal system (or digestive system), responsible for digestion and extracting nutrients from food, is vulnerable to congenital defects during its development. Healthy Gastrointestinal Tract Function The gastrointestinal system is made up of several organs, including the: Mouth Esophagus Stomach Small intestine: Duodenum, jejunum and ileum Large intestine: Cecum, colon, rectum and anus. In healthy people, food enters the mouth, and is chewed and swallowed, passing through the esophagus to the stomach. The stomach breaks down the food, then passes it into the intestines, where it is digested further, and particles from the food can be absorbed. Waste is stored in the r
Keep reading

Hypersomnia: An Overview

Hypersomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by sleeping too much, experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or a combination of the two. Hypersomnia is not the same as feeling tired due to poor quality sleep or not getting enough sleep. Often, people with hypersomnia fall asleep suddenly throughout the day, a symptom the condition shares with narcolepsy. Symptoms of Hypersomnia Symptoms of hypersomnia often develop in adolescence or early adulthood. People with hypersomnia may sleep for up to 12 hours at a time, but still wake up feeling tired. Individuals may struggle to wake up after deep sleep and seem disoriented and confused. Hypersomnia often develops gradually, making it difficult for people to realize they are sleeping too much. Signs associated with hypersomnia include: Anxiety Headaches Irritation Loss of appetite Low energy levels Memory problems "Nap attacks" during the day Restlessness Sleeping too much Slow speech Slow thought proce
Keep reading

Irritable Bowel Disease Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a very common disorder that affects the functioning of the bowel. Although the severity of the condition (also occasionally called  spastic colon ) can vary considerably from one patient to another, typical characteristics include changes in bowel habits ranging from diarrhea to constipation, cramp-like pains, bloating and a feeling of "gassiness." For some sufferers, IBS is little more than a minor inconvenience; for others it can be totally disabling. In extreme cases, the patient is unable to travel, function in the workplace or enjoy socializing. Common Misconceptions Irritable bowel syndrome is not . . . an imaginary disease.  IBS has biological causes and biological symptoms and is certainly not a condition that is "all in your mind. " caused by other diseases  such as gallstones or ulcers. an infection , although it can sometimes be triggered by a bout of gastroenteritis or similar digestive system disorders. hereditary . a precursor to c
Keep reading