The cause of the disease has not been fully determined to date, and the idea that it is caused by a virus is being replaced by the idea of an autoimmune disease.
Symptoms in the mouth: seen as single or multiple sores (aphthae) on the lips, tongue, cheek, palate or back wall of the mouth. These sores are usually from a lentil to pea size (rarely larger), surrounded by a red halo, with distinct borders, round or oval, with a base that looks like dirty butter and are painful.
Symptoms in the genital area: superficial or deeper sores in the form of aphthae may be observed on the penis and the skin surrounding the testicles in men, on the vagina and vaginal opening (lips) in women, at the end of the urinary tract (urethra) and in the anus in both genders.
Symptoms in the eye usually start with pain and discomfort with light. Conjunctivitis (~infection on the inner surface of the eyelid) may develop in the early stage. The most common eye condition observed in Behçet's disease is unilateral or bilateral hypopyon iritis (this will be determined by your doctor). Bloody (hemorrhagic) chorioretinitis may be detected in some patients.
Along with sores in the mouth and genital area, the patient may experience fever and regional lymph node enlargement. Eye symptoms occur in later stages and may result in blindness.
Behçet's is a disease that progresses in the form of attacks and crises. The situation is extremely serious in cases of eye and nerve involvement. Spontaneous recovery is extremely rare.
A-Basic Criteria
1- Mouth ulcers
2- Canker sores in the genital area
3- Eye findings
B-Other Criteria
1- Arthritis: More than half of the patients have arthritis or joint pain. They heal without leaving any traces in about 1-4 weeks. The knees and ankles are most commonly affected. The number of joints affected is not many.
2- Formation of blockages in the veins: especially in the eye vessels.
3- Nerve involvement: brain stem involvement (similar to disseminated sclerosis), spinal cord involvement (transverse myelitis), organic confusional syndrome (encephalitis).
4- Stomach and intestine involvement: stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis, abdominal pain, diarrhea
5- Heart involvement: aneurysm, carditis
6- Lung involvement
7- Other findings: protein excretion in urine, bloody urine, amyloidosis, family history of Behcet's disease
Other diseases that can be confused with Behçet's Disease
1- Aphthous stomatitis
2- Ulcers in the genital area
3- Vasculitis (vascular disorder) in the skin
4- Similar eye disorders
5- Arthritis
6- Reiter syndrome
7- Stevens-Johnson disease
