Behcet's disease is a type of autoimmune disorder. This rare disease causes skin lesions and ulcers. It is often wrongly thought that disease is a kind of sexually transmitted disease. However, in reality this disease occurs due to the disturbances in the immune system of the body.
The immune system is instrumental in protecting the body from infection and harms. However, at times, due to reasons unknown the immune system gets aggravated and there is exaggerated inflammation affecting the blood vessels. As a result symptoms like skin lesions and ulcers occur wherever there is inflammation in the blood vessels.
Behcet's disease gets its name from Hulusi Behcet, a Turkish scientist and dermatologist, who for the first time discovered this disease in the year 1924. This disease can affect people belonging to any age group. However, this disease mostly affects people belonging to the age group of 20 and 40.
Causes of Behcet's Disease
Behcet's disease , which is an autoimmune disorder, is caused when the immune system turns back on the body and attacks the body. As a result there is swelling in the different parts of the body. This mainly causes inflammation of the small vessels present in the body.
This condition is called as vasculitis. The real cause of this disease is yet to be known. But generally some viral infection precedes this disease. This infection accelerates the immune system to attack the blood vessels. This attack results in the inflammation of the blood vessels. Many researchers consider this disease to be genetic.
Symptoms of Behcet's Disease
The symptoms of Behcet’s disease depend upon the body’s part that is affected by this disease. The most common symptom is the occurrence of mouth ulcers that are painful. Usually these ulcers occur in the mouth and face region and this makes it difficult for a person to eat.
Another symptom of this disease is genital ulceration that is recurrent. Eye inflammation, which is known as uveitis, is also another symptom of this disease as well as the skin lesions, which occur at frequent interval. In such cases people face the problem of the occurrence of red colored bumpy nodules known as erythema nodosum and a rash similar to that of acne.
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Behcet's disease when it affects the joints, results in arthritis that is painful. Often it results in severe disability. In more serious cases the disease can also affect the brain and the nerves, which can result in impaired speech, balance and loss of memory. Some other symptoms of this disease include inflammation in the stomach, deep vein thrombosis, and superficial thrombophlebitis. This disease can also cause cardio-vascular problems due to inflammation in the blood vessels. Other symptoms include extreme exhaustion, psychological problem and changes in the personality.
Treatment for Behcet's Disease
There is no permanent cure of the Behcet's disease. However, the current treatments are being done for reducing the symptoms of this disease. The treatments involve regulating the immune system and reducing the inflammations. Anti-TNF therapy like infliximab is used for treating uveitis that is caused by this disease.
Besides, Etanercept, an anti-TNF agent is used for treating the mucosal and skin problems. Using Interferon alfa-2a can treat oral and genital ulcers. This is also used for curing ocular lesions. Azathioprine when combined with alfa-2b shows better results. Colchicine is useful in treating genital ulcers. Besides, it is also useful for treating erythema nodosum and arthritis in both men and women.
Advice Regarding Behcet's Disease
A person however should consult a doctor as soon as he observes any of the symptoms of this disease. Nonetheless every ulcer in the mouth is not caused due to Behcet’s disease. Therefore, if an ulcer occurs in the mouth of a person, he should not panic.
