You're Not Alone if You Have Questions About Behcet's Disease

There are many rare diseases in the world. Behcet’s disease is one of these and may affect 1 in every 200,000 or so people. Behcet’s disease is widely considered to be an autoimmune disease which affects a person’s blood vessels. People with Behcet’s disease will find that their blood vessels suffer from inflammation. This can occur in the blood vessels in any or every part of the body. Because the blood vessels can be affected in different parts, there are many different symptoms that might be prevalent. This can make diagnosing Behcet’s disease even more difficult. Treatment for this disease is very personalized and will depend on what a doctor sees in their patient. If you have questions about this troubling, but fascinating disease, keep reading to learn more. 

The Four Important Questions

Q: What’s the Main Sign of Behcet’s Disease? 

A: While there are many signs and symptoms to look out for. The most common sign or symptom that people will get is in the mouth. Look for round lesions that form in a person’s mouth. Eventually these will turn into ulcers which are very painful for the person suffering from them. Since Behcet’s disease tends to work in “flare ups”, these aren’t around all of the time. They will typically occur for somewhere between a week and three weeks in time. After they heal, they will recur at later points in the future. 

Q: Are There Other Symptoms to Look Out For?

A: There are a huge number of symptoms that can be seen. Which symptoms are seen depend on where in the body the inflammation occurs. When it happens in the eyes, people often get blurred vision. The eyes can also be painful and look red. The skin can develop red sores or raised areas on the lower legs. Both men and women can suffer from open sores on their genitals as well. Joints swell and become painful. Many suffer from diarrhea, abdominal pain, headaches, fevers, disorientation, loss of balance and swelling in arms and legs. Severe symptoms can include blood clots, aneurysms or stroke! 

Q: Am I At Risk of Behcet’s Disease? 

A: Anyone can contract Behcet’s disease. However, there are certain factors and considerations which can put you at a greater risk of contracting it. While many diseases are more likely as a person ages, Behcet’s is most likely developed by people in their 20s and 30s. People from the Middle East and East Asia are also more likely to get it. People from Turkey are often thought to be the most likely. While the disease can occur to men and women, the symptoms tend to be much stronger in men. 

Q: What Kind of Treatment Should I Expect if I get Behcet’s Disease?

A: Treatment is going to be aimed at reducing the severity of symptoms during a flare up. This is done through a variety of different medications that can be prescribed by doctors. Many come in oral form, but due to many of the exterior symptoms, there are other delivery methods as well. There are creams, gels, ointments and eye drops that are commonly used depending on symptom location. 

Disclaimer: The articles on this website are not meant to encourage the self-management of any health or wellness issue. Nor are they meant to encourage any one type of medical treatment. Treatment or advice used by a reader may have varying results, as each individual is different. Any article reader with a health-related question, is encouraged to seek a proper consultation with a doctor or certified health provider. The articles on this website should not be used to disregard any medical or health-related advice, nor should they be the root cause for delay in seeing a doctor or a certified health provider.

The articles on this website should not be used to start the use of dietary supplements or vitamins, natural or herbal products, homeopathic medicine or other mentioned products prior to a proper consultation with a doctor or certified health provider.

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