Do you also have these strange symptoms? Let's learn about Behçet's Disease in simple terms!

Have you ever heard of Behçet's Disease? The name may sound a bit strange. But it's actually a complex, but manageable condition that can affect many different parts of our bodies. So, let's talk about it in detail today, very simply, like talking to a friend.

What is Behçet's Disease?

Simply put, Behçet's disease is a chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in our bodies. Doctors also call it ``vasculitis.'' This is a condition in which the blood vessels become swollen, red, and painful. It can affect both the large blood vessels (arteries) and the small blood vessels (veins). This disease is sometimes called "Silk Road disease" because it is common in areas along the Silk Road in history.

Who is more likely to develop this disease?

Behçet's disease can affect anyone in the world. However, it is more common in some countries. For example, it is more common in northern Turkey, countries around the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East and East Asia. It is less common in countries like the United States. Symptoms usually begin to appear between the ages of 20 and 30. However, it can occur at any age. Although it was initially thought to affect both men and women equally, some studies show that men are slightly more likely to develop this disease .

What are the symptoms of this disease? How do we feel?

This is the most important thing. The symptoms of Behçet's disease can vary from person to person. This means that the symptoms you have may not be the same as those of another person. But there are a few key symptoms that are common.

Mouth sores

This is the first symptom that many people notice . It's like the canker sores we usually get in our mouths, but they're bigger, more frequent, and more painful . Some people may develop these mouth sores before any other symptoms appear. They can appear on the lips, tongue, and inside the cheeks.

Imagine, you constantly get mouth ulcers , they hurt so much you can't even eat or drink, and even after taking medicine, they come back a few days later. That's a situation like that.

Genital sores

Like mouth sores, genital sores can also occur. These can also be painful. They can also occur on the scrotum in men and the vulva in women. However, they are not as common as mouth sores.

Eye inflammation

Inflammation of the eyes is also a serious symptom of this disease. This can cause redness, pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and watery eyes . If not treated properly, it can lead to complete vision loss.There is a chance. There are reports that this type of eye damage is particularly common in countries like the Middle East and Japan.

Skin problems

Skin problems are also common. Sometimes, pimple-like blisters and red nodules (erythema nodosum) can appear. These bumps are painful to touch. Other times, skin ulcers can develop. Some of these are superficial, while others can be deep. Another unusual feature is that if the skin is scratched or pricked, the area will turn red and a small blister will appear within a few days . Doctors call this a "positive pathergy test."

Joint pain

Joint pain is also common among these patients. It affects the ankles, knees, elbows, and hips in particular . The joints may be swollen, red, and painful to the touch. However, it usually causes little permanent damage to the joints.

Vein inflammation

Inflammation inside the blood vessels can cause blood clots, blockages , or even complete blockage of the blood vessels. This can affect both superficial veins, which are close to the skin, and deep veins, which are deep within the body. Sometimes, the largest vein in our body, the vena cava, can be affected, which can lead to serious health problems. These blood vessel problems are caused by inflammation, not by a defect in the blood clotting system.

Brain involvement

Sometimes this disease can also affect the brain. Specifically, the membranes that cover the brain (meninges). Then symptoms such as fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, difficulty coordinating movement when walking can be seen. Sometimes , a stroke can also occur. This is when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract features

Problems can also occur in the digestive system, that is, in the intestines. You may see things like stomach cramps and blood in the stool . This is because wounds in the mouth and genital area, as well as wounds inside the intestines. These wounds in the intestines are a little dangerous, because they can cause bleeding from the intestines or rupture.

Effects on other organs

Although very rare, the disease can also affect other organs, such as the lungs, kidneys, and large blood vessels (aorta).

Why does Behçet's disease occur? What is the cause?

The exact cause of this disease is not yet known . Scientists are still researching it. One theory is that it may be an ``autoimmune disorder.`` Simply put, it means that our own immune system, the system that protects us from disease, mistakenly attacks our own healthy cells.. This attack is what causes the aforementioned inflammatory conditions. Certain gene markers, such as `(HLA-B5)` and `(HLA-B51), are seen in some people with this disease. However, not everyone with these gene markers develops Behçet's disease. Therefore, genes alone cannot be said to be the cause. Researchers also believe that in people who are genetically predisposed to this disease, there is an opinion that this disease may arise due to an infection (bacterial or viral) . This means that both genetic and environmental factors may affect it.

Who is at higher risk of developing this disease?

Some people are more at risk of developing this disease than others:

• People living in areas where this disease is common (e.g. Turkey, Middle East).
• People between the ages of 20 and 40 .
• People with certain specific genes (HLA-B5 or HLA-B51)
• Men (men are more at risk of contracting this disease than women).

How is this disease accurately diagnosed? (Diagnosis)

There is no single laboratory test to diagnose Behçet's disease. Doctors diagnose the disease based on your symptoms. They mainly look for:

• Frequent (usually more than three times a year) recurrence of mouth ulcers .
• In addition, at least two of the following characteristics must be present :
• Injuries to the genital area.
• Inflammation of the eyes.
• Skin problems.
• A positive pathergy test - This means that a red, blister-like rash appears within a few days after a skin prick or prick. This gives an idea of ​​how well the immune system is working.

To accurately diagnose this disease, it is necessary to rule out other diseases that cause mouth sores that are similar to Behçet's disease . For example, `(systemic lupus)`, `(Crohn's disease)` (an inflammatory condition of the intestines), and other types of `(vasculitis)`. Your doctor may order blood tests to help rule out these other diseases.

Is this a hereditary disease?

There is no clear evidence that Behçet's disease is hereditary . Most cases occur randomly, without any family history. Although a very small percentage of cases have been reported in several members of the same family, there is no clear hereditary pattern.

What are the treatments for this? (Treatment)

There is no cure for this disease yet . However, there are several medications that can help manage symptoms:

• Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone): These are the main treatment. These medications reduce inflammation and the overactivity of the immune system.
• Colchicine (Colcrys®): This helps with mouth sores, genital sores, and sometimes joint pain.
• Other immunosuppressant drugs : Examples include methotrexate (Trexall®, Rasuvo®), azathioprine (Imuran®, Azasan®), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®, Neosar®), and cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®). In more severe cases, anti-TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) biologics such as infliximab (Remicade®), etanercept (Enbrel®), and tocilizumab (Actemra®) are also used.

Important: These immunosuppressant medications can reduce your body's ability to fight disease, which increases your risk of developing other infections.

• Apremilast (Otezla®) : This is an oral tablet. It is approved to treat mouth sores in people with Behçet's disease.

Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may try to control symptoms with things like eye drops, mouthwashes, and skin ointments before using these medications.

What kind of hope can you have while living with this disease?

Behçet's is a chronic disease . This means that, despite treatment, it can sometimes disappear and reappear. This makes it difficult to say exactly how successful treatment is. Many patients will have to deal with these symptoms at times throughout their lives. However, most people can live normal, full lives .

How to cope successfully with this disease?

There are several ways to help when living with this disease:

• Balance between rest and activity : A consistent exercise regimen will make your body feel good, reduce joint pain and other problem areas. Also, taking some time to rest when symptoms are severe is good for your mental health and can reduce the impact of symptoms.
• Shared experience and community : This means finding and talking to other people who have the same condition. This can be difficult because the condition is rare. But your doctor can help you find people who have had similar experiences.

Can this disease be fatal?

The mortality rate from this disease is approximately 5%.The main causes of death are intestinal perforation, strokes, and rupture of aneurysms. Although Behçet's disease is not directly fatal, it can cause a variety of health problems and medical conditions throughout the body, many of which are painful. However, it is possible to manage the disease successfully and live a normal life . Especially if you exercise regularly, rest, and talk to others who are going through the same thing.

Finally, remember these things!

Behçet's disease can be a complicated and uncomfortable condition. But remember:

• This is a manageable disease.
• If you have these symptoms, seek medical advice immediately .
• You can try to live a normal life with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.
• Don't suffer alone, connect with support groups or other patients .

I hope this information is useful to you. Stay healthy!