health

FMF symptoms include fever, which may range from 100 to 104 degrees
Fahrenheit. If an episode is a mild one, the fever may be the only symptom.
Most people with FMF experience episodes of abdominal pain and inflammation,
which may be misinterpreted as appendicitis. Consequently,
people with FMF sometimes have procedures they do not really need,
such as appendectomies.
FMF sometimes causes inflammation of the tissue surrounding the
lungs and heart. Inflammation of the joints is more common and usually
involves the wrists, knees, and ankles. Joint symptoms may resemble
those of more common medical problems such as gout. FMF sufferers
may experience skin rashes, especially on the lower extremities. Muscle
pain may be confused with other muscle disorders. Male FMF sufferers
may have painful inflammation of the scrotum, while females may experience
pelvic inflammation. One-third of females with FMF are infertile,
and FMF causes a higher rate of miscarriage.
FMF sufferers sometimes develop amyloidosis where a protein called
amyloid is deposited in body tissues, which can damage both the tissues
and the kidneys that filter excess proteins from the blood. Kidney failure
can occur in some patients who are not treated with medicine.