Behcet's Disease.

Last updated Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Symptoms

What are symptoms of behcet's disease?

Common symptoms

• Mouth ulcers: These sores can occur on your tongue, and on the inside of your lips and cheeks. They can be painful and may make it hard to eat or swallow. They usually last for one to two weeks, but can occur again and again.
• Eye problems: These can be the most serious symptoms of Behcet's disease. The disease can cause pain, redness and swelling of eye tissues. This is called uveitis. The disease can also affect the retina (the inner lining of the eye). If not treated, this can cause blindness.
• Genital ulcers: These appear less often than the mouth sores. They are sometimes mistaken for herpes, but are not caused by the herpes virus.
• Skin bumps: Reddish bumps and sores that resemble acne can occur on your trunk, arms, and legs.

Less common symptoms

• Arthritis: Joint pain and swelling, especially in your knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists. It usually does not cause joint deformity.
• Abdominal pain and tenderness, and blood in your stool. This is sometimes mistaken for Crohn's disease, a condition that affects the bowel.
• Fever, a stiff neck, and headaches: This happens if the condition affects your brain and nervous system.
• Phlebitis: This is swelling of veins, usually the veins in your legs. The area around the vein may become painful and tender. The skin around the area may become red and may feel warm. It may cause blood clots to form, which can cause serious problems.
• Behcet's disease can also affect the lungs or heart. In rare cases, this can be life-threatening.

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