Symptoms of Sarcoidosis



In mild cases of the condition, there may be no visible signs of symptoms. In more severe cases, the signs and symptoms of Sarcoidosis will depend on which part of the body is affected and may include:

  • Chest pain and a feeling of tightness
  • Dry hacking cough or cough with phlegm
  • Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath
  • Abnormal heartbeat
  • Fatigue
  • Night sweats
  • Unexplained fever
  • Aching of the joints
  • Overall feeling of ill health or discomfort
  • Hair loss
  • Weight loss
  • Sores on the skin that are raised, reddened and firm to touch. These most often occur on the lower legs
  • Patches of discolored skin
  • Lumps or ulcers that may be itchy but do not hurt
  • Inflamed scars, skin rash on the face, arms or shins
  • Headaches
  • Seizures
  • Weakness of the facial muscles (normally on one side of the face)
  • A burning sensation or a discharge from the eyes
  • Itchy or dry eyes along with pain
  • Loss of vision
  • Dry mouth
  • Fainting spells (when the heart is affected)
  • Bleeding from the nose
  • Swollen upper abdomen
  • Enlarged liver, spleen or salivary glands
  • Depression

Symptoms of Sarcoidosis can remain restricted to the organ affected or the person can suffer from general symptoms. In many cases, there may be no symptoms at all - making a diagnosis of the disease very difficult. Symptoms also vary depending on how long the condition has been present, what tissues are affected, how and where the granulomas are forming and whether the process of formation is still active at the time of treatment. Sarcoidosis symptoms can appear and disappear over time or remain persistent over a lifetime as well.

Lofgren's Syndrome is a type of Sarcoidosis that is largely found in people of European descent. The signs and symptoms of this syndrome include:

  • Unexplained fever
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Arthritis (especially in the ankles)
  • Skin rash around the ankles and shins known as Erythema nodosum
  • The rash may be tender and the skin warm to the touch


References
  1. Sonya R. Hardin, Cat's claw: An Amazonian vine decreases inflammation in osteoarthritis, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 13, Issue 1, February 2007, Pages 25-28, ISSN 1744-3881, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2006.10.003.