Sarcoidosis

Sarciodosis – Rare Condition Affecting Multiple Organs

Sarcoidosis is a rare condition, an inflammatory disease which affects multiple organs in the body, mostly the lungs and lymph glands. People suffering from sarcoidosis have abnormal masses or nodules known as granulomas, comprising of inflamed tissues which form in certain organs of the body and these could change the normal structure and possibly the functions of the affected organs.

The typical symptoms may include red tender bumps on the skin, persistent cough and shortness of breath though it may differ from person to person depending on which organ is affected. There is no cure for this ailment but the condition tends to improve without treatment and passes off within a few months or years.

The symptoms are not usually severe and do not affect the daily functions of the person affected. In some cases the symptoms tend to begin suddenly or severely and disappear in a short period of time while in other cases there may be no indication of outward symptoms at all though some organs could get affected. In still other cases, the symptoms tend to appear gradually which could last or recur over a long period of time.

Other Symptoms May Include 

Symptoms would depend on which organ is involved and besides tender red bumps, persistent dry cough and shortness of breath, other symptoms could also include: fatigue, red and watery eyes or blurred vision, swollen and painful joints, enlarged lymph glands in the chest and around the lungs, hoarse voice, enlarged and tender lymph glands in the neck, armpits and groin, pain in the hands, feet or any bony area which is due to the formation of cysts in the bones, kidney stone formation, enlarged liver, development of abnormal or missed heart beats, inflammation of the covering of the heart or even heart failure and the nervous system gets affected which could include hearing loss, meningitis, seizures or psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis, or dementia.

The exact cause of this ailment is not known. It is a kind of autoimmune disease which is associated with an abnormal immune response though what could trigger this response is uncertain and study is in progress to find out the spread of sarcoidosis from one area of the body to another.

Diagnosis & Treatment 

If the symptoms indicate that the person has pulmonary sarcoidosis which affects the lungs, a chest x-ray or a computerised tomography- CT scan of the lungs is done to identify for signs of the condition. Doctors may also need to examine the inside of the lungs in some cases, by using a long, thin flexible tube with a light source together with a camera - endoscope, at one end which is passed down through the throat and a small sample for lung tissue may also be removed at the time of this test where a microscopic study of it could be done.

This is known as biopsy. If sarcoidosis has affected other organs like the skin, heart or eyes, scans or examination are carried out on these areas. Treating this condition is done by simple changes in lifestyle and over the counter medication to treat any pain to control any flare-ups. Doctors could monitor the condition and check to see if the person is improving or getting worse without treatment which could be done with regular x-rays, blood tests and breathing tests.