Symptoms

Lung symptoms

The lungs are affected in about 90% of people with sarcoidosis. This is known as pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The main symptoms are shortness of breath and a persistent dry cough. Some people with pulmonary sarcoidosis experience pain and discomfort in their chest, but this is uncommon.

Skin symptoms

The skin is also affected in many people with sarcoidosis.

This can cause tender, red bumps or patches to develop on the skin (particularly the shins), as well as rashes on the upper body.

Other symptoms

If other organs are affected, you may also have some of the following symptoms:

• tender and swollen glands in the face, neck, armpits or groin
• tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell
• painful joints
• red or sore eyes
• an abnormal heart rhythm
• a blocked or stuffy nose
• pain in the bones
• kidney stones
• headache

Diagnosis

A number of different tests may be carried out to diagnose sarcoidosis, depending on which organs are affected.

If your symptoms suggest you have pulmonary sarcoidosis (sarcoidosis affecting the lungs), you may have a chest X-ray or a computerised tomography (CT) scan of your lungs to look for signs of the condition.

In some cases, doctors may want to examine the inside of your lungs using a long, thin, flexible tube with a light source and a camera at the end (an endoscope) that is passed down your throat. A small sample of lung tissue may also be removed during this test so it can be studied under a microscope. This is known as a biopsy.

If doctors think you may have sarcoidosis affecting other organs – such as the skin, heart or eyes – scans or examinations of these areas will usually be carried out.

Causes

It is thought that sarcoidosis happens because the immune system has gone into “overdrive”, where the body starts to attack its own tissues and organs. The resulting inflammation then causes granulomas to develop in the organs.

It is not known why the immune system behaves like this.

It is possible that some environmental factor triggers the condition in people who are already genetically susceptible to it.

Most people with sarcoidosis do not need treatment as the condition often goes away on its own, usually within a few months or years.

Simple lifestyle changes and over-the-counter painkillers (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen) are often all that is needed to control the pain of any flare-ups.

Doctors will monitor your condition to check if it is getting any better or worse without treatment. This can be done with regular X-rays, breathing tests and blood tests.

Sarcoidosis can occasionally occur in more than one family member, but there is no evidence that the condition is inherited. The condition is not infectious, so it cannot be passed from person to person.

Symptoms of sarcoidosis may come and go, and can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers so they do not affect everyday life. Most people with the condition find their symptoms have disappeared within a few years of their diagnosis