Behçet’s Disease Causes

Behçet’s disease is non-communicable and the precise cause is still unclear. It is considered that an autoimmune reaction could lead to inflammation of blood vessels, however it is unclear what elicits this response.

Behçet’s disease is possibly caused due to a merger of heritable and environment-related aspects. A number of scientists believe that a viral or bacterial form could be the triggering factor for this disease among individuals having a particular inherent background. Other likely elicitors which might activate the immune system might comprise of certain chemical forms or heavy metals.

Risk Factors

Certain factors that could raise chances of getting Behçet’s disease comprise of:

• Behçet’s disease prevalently has been observed to affect both genders in age groups of twenty to forty years old, although kids and older aged adults could also develop this disease. The earlier this condition develops, greater the extent of severity of the disease.
• Certain parts of the world have noticeable increased likelihood of developing Behçet’s disease like Middle East, Asia, China and Japan.
• Though both sexes have been found to be affected, severity of the disease is greater among males.
• Presence of particular genes or variations in particular genes is linked with greater likelihood of developing Behçet’s disease.

Behçet’s Disease Symptoms

Signs and symptoms differ in every individual and could subside and re-surface and are dependent on which body part being affected due to inflammation arising from Behçet’s disease.

• Agonising oral sores similar to canker sores are the prevalent signs of Behçet’s disease surfacing as risen, rounded oral lesions soon turning into excruciating ulcerous growths. Their healing period is generally 7 to twenty-one days, although they could resurface.
• Lesions appearing on the skin like pustule sores over the body while others could be reddish, risen and sore nodule formation on the skin, particularly the lower portion of the legs.
• Sores could surface on the genital region, prevalently on the scrotal or vulval region appearing rounded, reddish and ulcerous lesions that are generally excruciating and could leave remnant marks.
• Eye inflammation could lead to uveitis causing reddishness, discomforting sensation and blurry vision in either a single or both the eyes and could keep coming and going. Inflammation developing in the retinal blood vessels is a grave complication of the condition.
• Swell up and painful sensation widely affecting the knee joints and even ankles, elbows or wrists could develop lasting for 1-3 weeks and then subsiding.
• Vein and big arterial inflammation could develop in Behçet’s disease leading to reddishness, painful sensation and swell up of the arm or leg region resulting in blood clot formation. Factually several of the symptoms of Behçet’s disease are considered to be developing due to vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels). Such symptoms could arise and then subside with either of the limbs being affected due to it. Large arterial inflammation could cause complications like aneurysms and restricting or obstruction of the vessel.
• The digestive system could be affected leading to stomach pains, loose bowels or bleeding.
• The brain and CNS could be affected leading to headaches, fever, feeling disoriented, inadequate balance or strokes.