Behçet disease leads to swelling of the blood vessels and affects multiple organs throughout the body. Symptoms may include ulcers affecting the mouth and genitals, various skin lesions, and swelling of the membranes affecting the eyes. In some people, symptoms include arthritis (swollen, painful, stiff joints), skin problems, and inflammation of the digestive tract, brain, and spinal cord. Symptoms of Behçet disease may be active and then become inactive. In some cases, Behçet disease may lead to vision loss and neurological problems. The exact cause of Behçet disease is unknown, but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic, immune, and environmental factors. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms and clinical examination. Diagnostic guidelines have been published.
Estimated Number of People with this Disease
In the U.S. there may be between
3,000 to 30,000
What Information Does GARD Have For This Disease?
Many rare diseases have limited information. Currently GARD is able to provide the following information for this disease:
*Data may be currently unavailable to GARD at this time.
The most common ages for symptoms of a disease to begin is called age of onset. Age of onset can vary for different diseases and may be used by a doctor to determine the diagnosis. For some diseases, symptoms may begin in a single age range or several age ranges. For other diseases, symptoms may begin any time during a person's life.
Prenatal
Before Birth
Newborn
Birth-4 weeks
Infant
1-23 months
Child Selected
2-11 years
Adolescent Selected
12-18 years
Adult Selected
19-65 years
Older Adult
65+ years
The common ages for symptoms to begin in this disease are shown above by the colored icon(s).
Symptoms
These symptoms may be different from person to person. Some people may have more symptoms than others and symptoms can range from mild to severe. This list does not include every symptom. This disease might cause these symptoms:
Musculoskeletal System
66 Symptoms
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List View
Tile View
List View
Musculoskeletal System
The musculoskeletal system is made up of the bones, muscles, and joints. Common symptoms of problems in the musculoskeletal system include pain, weakness, stiffness, noises in the joints, inflammation, and decreased range of motion. Diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system may be diagnosed and treated by an orthopedist, rheumatologist, or neuromuscular specialist.
Medical Term
Arthritis
Frequency: Very frequent
Description
Inflammation of a joint.
Inflammation of a joint.
Synonym
Joint inflammation
Joint inflammation
66 Symptoms
Causes
This section is currently in development.
Next Steps
Talking with the Medical Team
Good communication between the patient, family, and medical team can lead to an accurate diagnosis. In addition, health care decisions can be made together which improves the patient’s well-being and quality of life.
Describing Symptoms
Describe details about the symptoms. Because there may be many different causes for a single symptom, it is best not to make a conclusion about the diagnosis. The detailed descriptions help the medical provider determine the correct diagnosis.
To help describe a symptom:
Use a smartphone or a notebook to record each symptom before the appointment
Describe each symptom by answering the following questions:
When did the symptom start?
How often does it happen?
Does anything make it better or worse?
Tell the medical team whether any symptoms affect daily activities
Preparing for the First Visit
Working with a medical team to find a diagnosis can be a long process that will require more than one appointment. Make better health decisions by being prepared for the first visit with each member of the medical team.
Make informed decisions about health care:
Prepare a list of questions and concerns before the appointment
List the most important questions first, not all questions may be answered in the first visit
Ask questions about symptoms, possible diagnoses, tests, and treatment options
For future appointments:
Discuss what was not addressed at the last visit
Discuss changes in the quality of life for the patient, family, and caregivers
Discuss health goals and other issues in the patient’s and family’s life that may affect the health care decisions
Take notes during the appointments to help remember what was discussed.
Data from Orphanet and Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) are used to provide information on a disease's symptoms, genes, inheritance, population estimates, and more.
