# A Case of Behçet’s Disease Initially Presenting With Acute Dyspnea Due to Subglottitis

## TL;DR

A 17-year-old girl with Behçet’s disease first showed symptoms of acute breathing trouble due to throat swelling, a previously unreported presentation of the condition.

## Contribution

This case is the first to report acute dyspnea due to subglottitis as an initial manifestation of Behçet’s disease.

## Key findings

- The patient presented with acute dyspnea caused by subglottic swelling and aphthous lesions.
- Behçet’s disease was diagnosed after subsequent development of oral, genital ulcers, and skin lesions.
- Histologic skin examination confirmed the diagnosis of Behçet’s disease.

## Abstract

We report the case of a 17-year-old female patient who was referred to our department for acute dyspnea. She had noticed erythema all over her body and suddenly noticed severe hoarseness, cough, and wheezing three days before her presentation. Fiberscopy revealed subglottic swelling and aphthae. Subglottitis was diagnosed and intravenous corticosteroids and antibiotics were administered. Subsequently, oral ulcers, genital ulcers, and systemic papules were noted. Histologic examination of the skin suggested Behçet’s disease. Behçet’s disease is an inflammatory disorder that can affect multiple areas of the body, including the mucous membranes of the mouth and genital region, eyes, skin, and joints. To our knowledge, acute dyspnea due to subglottitis has never been reported in patients with Behçet’s disease.