Many people are not familiar with this type of disorder known as Behçet’s disease. Behçet’s disease is a rare disorder that results in damage to blood vessels which causes problems in part of the body including the eyes. The condition is usually long-term or chronic but there are times where remission happens. Remission is the period when the symptoms go away.
The majority of the symptoms of Behçet’s disease occur because of the inflammation in blood vessels. We are aware that inflammation occurs when there is an infection and your immune system is fighting it. In Behçet’s disease, your immune system attacks blood vessels instead of infection which causes swelling and pain in parts of the body.
A gene (HLA-B5) may be present in people with Behçet’s disease which causes problems in the immune system to occur. Environment including bacteria and viruses may also cause the reaction. If you are one of the people affected by Behçet’s disease, you cannot give it to anyone else because it is not contagious.
Symptoms of Behçet’s Disease
Just like other health conditions, anyone can have Behçet’s disease. The people who are put at greater risk of developing Behçet’s disease are those who are in their 20s or 30s and are Middle Eastern or Asian. It is about 3 out of 4 people with Behçet’s disease who experience symptoms concerning their eyes. The symptoms include blurry vision, eye pain, or red eyes.
Some people with Behçet’s disease also experience sores on their skin, mouth, or genitals. These are the serious problems that can occur from Behçet’s disease:
- Blood clots
- Meningitis or swelling in the brain and spinal cord
- Problems affecting the digestive system such as diarrhea or abdominal pain
Diagnosis and Treatment for Behçet’s Disease
People get curious about how Behçet’s disease is being diagnosed. Unfortunately, there is no single test available for Behçet’s disease. The only way to be diagnosed with this disease is based on symptoms. It is hard for doctors to depend on symptoms only because they do not always happen at the same time and some conditions have similar symptoms.
Monitor the symptoms that you are experiencing because it can help in making the right diagnosis. You can write down what and when the symptoms happen because it is vital information to eye doctors. The sad thing about Behçet’s disease is there is no cure yet but there are treatments available that can help alleviate pain and stop serious problems from occurring.
