The symptoms of WG and the severity of those symptoms vary from patient to patient, although most patients first notice symptoms in the upper respiratory tract. Rhinorrhea can result from sinus drainage and can cause upper respiratory obstruction and pain. Sinusitis in patients with WG can be mild, but it can also be severe enough to destroy the bony structure of the sinuses. Chest X-rays are usually abnormal, although often there are no symptoms of lung problems. Although kidney inflammation is common, it, too, usually has no symptoms.
Some patients experience joint pains or a form of arthritis.
Other organ systems that can be involved include the eyes, nervous system, heart, and skin. Other initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite, weight loss, joint pain, night sweats, changes in color of urine, weakness. Be aware that all WG patients do NOT experience all of the above symptoms, and that the severity of this disease is different with each patient. Fever is often present, sometimes resulting from bacterial infection in the sinuses. One-third of patients may be without symptoms at onset of disease.