Inflammation of the Body Tissues
Sarcoidosis is a disease that causes inflammation of the body tissues. This leads to small lumps called granulomas. The disease can affect any organ in the body but it often starts in the lungs and lymph nodes. While it is not known what causes sarcoidosis, it results from a problem with the body’s immune system.
Symptoms
Most people have no symptoms at all. If symptoms do occur, they can include dry cough, tightness in the chest, and tiredness. Wheezing, shortness of breath, skin rashes, joint pain, kidney stones, vision problems, and loss of appetite can also occur. In some cases, pulmonary sarcoidosis stops getting worse. It may even go away. In other cases, the disease is long-lasting (chronic).
Treatment
While the disease may go away on its own for some people, treatment can be done to help relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation, and help prevent damage. Anti-inflammatory medicines are used to treat the disease which may be taken in pill form or by injection.