Vasculitis

Vasculitis means inflamed blood vessels. This happens when the body's own immune system attacks the blood vessels.

Your immune system might be reacting to an infection or a medicine. Or you may have an immune disorder.

Vasculitis causes blood vessel walls to thicken, weaken, or stretch. This makes it harder for blood to flow. And that can lead to symptoms in any parts of your body that aren't getting enough blood. The blood vessels might also bleed inside your body.

There are different types of vasculitis. And different parts of the body can be affected. This includes the head, joints and muscles, the skin, and some internal organs.

The main goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation in the blood vessels.

Mild cases may go away on their own. Sometimes over-the-counter pain medicine helps. For more severe cases, a doctor might prescribe medicine that reduces inflammation.