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Behcet Syndrome is a medical condition in which a relapsing chronic inflammatory disorder that may produce painful, recurring skin blisters, mouth sores, swollen joints, or genital sores, occurs. In addition, blood vessels, eyes, GI, and nervous system can also become inflamed. Behcet’s syndrome affects males twice as frequently as females. It commonly appears in individuals during their twenties, but in some cases, may develop in children. This syndrome is not common in the United States. The cause of this disorder is not known, but autoimmune disorders and viruses can play a role. Almost all people with Behcet’s syndrome have repeated painful sores in mouth, which are common first symptoms. Sores on the scrotium, penis, and vulva are painful; vagina’s sores can be painless; other symptoms may appear months to years later. Repeated inflammation of the eye area (replasing iridocyclitis) produce hazy vision, eye pain, and sensitivity to light. Few other eye disorders may occur, such as uveitis, which may result in blindness, if it is not treated. Pus-filled pimples and skin blisters progress in approx. 80% of individuals. About 50% of patients with Behcet’s syndrome may have a relatively mild, nonprogressive knee arthritis and other large joints. Vasculitis may result in formation of blood clots, strokes, aneurysm, and kidney damage. If GI-gastrointestinal tract is damaged, symptoms can range from mild discomfort to serious diarrhea and cramping. The repeated symptoms of Behcet’s syndrome may be too disruptive. The symptoms or remissions can continue for years or decades. Possible complication is paralysis. Usually, damage to the blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract or nervous system is fatal. The diagnosis of Behcet’s syndrome depends on the physical examinations, because no laboratory tests may detect the syndrome. Confirming the diagnosis may take several months. There is no cure for Behcet Syndrome, but certain symptoms may generally be relieved by treatment. Corticosteroids, applied externally, may help heal skin sores and inflamed eye. Paints with severe inflammation of the eye or the nervous system can be treated with corticosteroids, such as prednisone. Immunossupressive drugs, such as Cyclosporine, can be prescribed for patients with severe eye problems or when Prednisone can’t control the symptom.
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