How to Prevent Whipple's Disease

Whipple's disease affects the body's intestines by interrupting normal digestive breakdown of foods and nutrient absorption. A bacterium, Tropheryma whipplei, alters the mucosal lining of the intestines, forming lesions in the walls of the small intestine. The disease also causes further damage to other organs such as the eyes, brain and heart, and can be fatal with no treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic, this rare disease affects one person out of a million per year, and as such, little is known about the causes and risks of the disease.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult a physician. If you are a middle-aged man, your likelihood (though very small) of developing the disease is increased, so regular visits to your doctor may help prevent the disease from progressing, if in fact you have it. Because scientists believe that a certain genetic abnormality exists that allows the bacterium to cause damage to the body, if you have an immune disorder, seeing a doctor regularly may keep you from developing the disease at a more progressive rate with treatment.

• 2

  Lead a healthy lifestyle. According to New York University Langone Medical Center, healthy people carrying the bacterium do not see the disease progress like those who have a genetic trait that responds negatively to the bacterium. Though the disease's progression may be due to your genetic makeup alone, staying fit and eating healthy foods may improve your immune system, preparing yourself against the disease.

• 3

  Keep researching. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, as well as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, are performing studies to determine the risks, causes and means of prevention for Whipple's disease, so staying up-to-date on the information produced by such research can keep you knowledgeable about prevention techniques (see Resources below).