Anyone here ever have Whipple's Disease?

[Zizzle]

I was reading a case study of a man with Crohn's, spondilitis and uveitis, and came across this differential diagnosis: Whipple's Disease. It's rare, and usually found in men, but it sure shares alot in common with MC, with the exception of fever. It's a bacterial infection by Tropheryma whipplei (T. whipplei), which can apparently infect people and cause no symptoms too.

Classic signs and symptoms of Whipple’s disease include joint pain, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain and bloating, fever, fatigue, and anemia.

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/whipple/

Scientists are unsure how T. whipplei infects people. One theory is that some people are more vulnerable to Whipple's disease—probably due to genetic factors that influence the body's immune system. This theory is supported by the existence of a relatively high number of asymptomatic carriers—people who have the bacteria in their bodies but don't get sick. Also, the bacteria are more common in the environment—showing up in soil and sewage wastewater—than would be predicted based on the rareness of the disease. And while multiple cases of Whipple’s disease have occurred within the same family, no documentation exists of a person-to-person transmission.

[dgshelton]

They thought my mother had that at one time, but she tested negative for it. I think she had celiac, but was never diagnosed with it.

Hugs,

[Zizzle]

The celiac-like small intestine damage is interesting, as is the genetic susceptibility component. Could some celiacs actually have a mild case of whipple's?

[dgshelton]

Zizzle - Anything is possible. At least that's what I've learned after being diagnosed with MC.

Hugs,