Behcet’s disease, aka Behcet syndrome, causes vasculitis, which in turn can create numerous health problems throughout your body. Why this inflammation occurs is unknown. Yet, it’s believed two factors are involved before this inflammatory disease onset.
First, you have an immune system abnormality that makes you more susceptible, this may be inherited. And secondly, some environmental influence triggers Behcet’s disease activation, possibly a bacteria or virus.
Under healthy conditions, your immune system protects you from infectious diseases by killing harmful invaders. In contrast, Behcets syndrome is classified as an autoimmune disorder because your immune reaction mistakenly attacks its own tissue.
Behcet’s disease is not contagious and it has the highest occurrence in those of Middle Eastern and Asian decent males.
Just about all of Behcet syndrome’s symptoms are attributable to vascular inflammation. Recurring mouth sores and skin sores are two of its most common symptoms.
Behcet’s disease mouth sores and canker sores are indistinguishable. And the skin lesions resemble folliculitis, but these sores frequently ulcerate.
Some other common vasculitis symptoms of Behcet syndrome are:
- arthritis
- arthralgia
- genital sores
- uveitis causing blurry vision
These symptoms typically don’t crop up all at once, not everyone experiences the same symptoms and flare ups may present different symptoms each time. All of which makes for a difficult diagnosis.
Mouth and skin sores are considered mild symptoms of Behcet’s disease. Unfortunately, a relatively few will suffer serious health problems, such as:
- stroke
- meningitis
- vision loss
- blood clots
- lung aneurysms
- digestive sores akin to those of colitis & Crohn’s inflammatory bowel diseases
- nervous system swelling that causes memory loss, impaired speech, balance & movement difficulty
Behcets disease digestive ulcerations are identical to the mouth and genital sores. And they might cause you symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloody stools.
There is no cure for Behcet vasculitis, so treatment is primarily designed to reduce your pain and prevent any serious health complications. Drugs, rest, exercise and a healthy lifestyle are the core of its relief regime.
Topical pain relievers and anti inflammatory corticorsteroid rinses, gels, ointments and creams may be used to abate the discomfort of mouth and skin sores. Low dose immunosuppressants, i.e. prednisone, may be required to keep your skin in ulcerating remission and other symptoms under control. However, this medication is not brought to you without undesirable drug side effects.
During a Behcet’s disease flare up rest in vital. And amid a remission exercise is important to keep your joints flexible.
Many with Behcet syndrome can lead a rather productive life, particularly if your symptoms are limited to mouth and skin sores.