Vasculitis

What is Vasculitis?

Vasculitis is a group of rare diseases that cause inflammation of the blood vessels. This can make the vessels narrow, weak, or blocked, affecting the flow of blood to organs and tissues. Vasculitis can affect any part of the body, including the skin, joints, nerves, lungs, kidneys, or brain.

There are many types, and symptoms can vary depending on which organs are involved.

How can I recognize it?

Because it can affect different parts of the body, symptoms may include:

• Fever, tiredness, or weight loss without a clear reason
• Red or purple spots on the skin, especially on the legs
• Pain in the joints or muscles
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Headaches or vision changes (if vessels in the head are involved)
• Chest pain or breathlessness (if the heart or lungs are affected)
• Pain in the legs while walking (called claudication) — due to reduced blood flow
• Abdominal pain or blood in urine (if kidneys or gut are involved)

Symptoms can appear suddenly or develop slowly and may come and go.