Whipple's disease

Whipple's disease is a rare, systemic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. Whipple's disease primarily causes malabsorption but may affect any part of the body. Weight loss, diarrhea, joint pain, and arthritis are common presenting symptoms. Whipple's disease is significantly more common in men. Whipple's disease can usually be cured with long-term antibiotic therapy; untreated, the disease is ultimately fatal.