This site can answer your questions. There is some speculation that a muatation of a gene may make one succeptable to Whipples, if so you may want to get a geneticist involved. It appears that most of us get the bacteria and can't fight it, while others can't. Normally a course of antibiotics can cure it, unless it is allowed to progress too long. So, maybe just being very aware of early symptoms is best for your children. Take care.