The Signs of Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body, but most commonly the lungs and lymph glands. People with sarcoidosis develop abnormal masses or nodules within their organs, called granulomas. The granulomas are made of inflamed tissues and sometimes change the structure or function of affected organs.

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. It is classified as an autoimmune disease which generates abnormal immune response, but the triggers are still uncertain.

As with many autoimmune diseases, the symptoms of sarcoidosis vary greatly among different individuals and depending upon the organs involved.

Most sarcoidosis patients experience:

• Persistent dry cough
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath

Additional symptoms can include:

• Tender reddish bumps or patches on the skin
• Red and teary eyes or blurred vision
• Swollen and painful joints
• Enlarged and tender lymph glands in the neck, armpits, and groin
• Enlarged lymph glands in the chest and around the lungs
• Hoarse voice
• Pain in the hands, feet, or other bony areas due to the formation of cysts in bones
• Kidney stone formation
• Enlarged liver
• Development of abnormal or missed heart beats, inflammation of the covering of the heart, or heart failure
• Nervous system effects, including hearing loss, meningitis, seizures, or psychiatric disorders—such as dementia, depression, or psychosis

For some people, symptoms begin suddenly and severely but quickly subside. Others experience no outward signs even when organs are impacted. And others get symptoms that appear more slowly and subtly, but either last or recur over a longer timespan.