National Sarcoidosis Month
April 15, 2019
What is Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that forms tiny clumps of inflammatory cells in one of more organs of the body. In 90% of cases this disorder affects the lungs, but it can affect almost any part of the body. This is one of many diseases that have no cure.
What are some symptoms?
Signs and symptoms of Sarcoidosis vary depending on which organs are affected.
- General Symptoms: fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, pain and swelling in joints.
- Lung Symptoms: persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain.
- Skin Symptoms: rash of red or reddish-purple bumps, usually located on shins or ankles, disfiguring sores on the nose, cheeks and ears, areas of skin that are darker or lighter in color, growths under the skin particularly around scars or tattoos.
- Eye Symptoms: blurred vision, eye pain, burning, itching or dry eyes, severe redness, sensitivity to light.
- Heart Symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, fatigue, irregular heartbeats, rapid or fluttering heartbeat, swelling caused by excess fluid.
What are risk factors?
- Age and Sex: Sarcoidosis can occur at any age, however most often between the ages of 20 and 60 and women are slightly more likely to develop the disease
- Race: African and Northern European decent have a higher chance of developing sarcoidosis
- Family History: those with a family history to the disease are more likely to develop it
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