What is Sarcodosis?

Sarcodosis in the inflammation which produces tiny lumps of cells (granulomas) in various organs of the body. Many times, these granulomas or lumps of cells will grow and clump together making more big and small groups of lumps. These lumps when formed in the organ may affect how the organ works.

Where does sarcodosis occur in the body? The answer is it can occur in almost any part. It often starts in either the lungs or lymph nodes and affects the skin, eyes and liver, spleen, brain, nerves and the heart. Sarcodosis can be mild and the symptoms goes away in a few years with or without treatment. However, sarcodosis at times does get worse over time and may likely cause damage to the organ permanently.

The sad part is that what causes sarcodosis is unknown. It's been said that it may be the result of the immune system overreacting to some foreign substances. Sarcodosis can affect both men and women of all ages and race but mostly in people between the ages of 20 to 40 and African Americans are more proned to the disease followed by Asian, German, Irish, Puerto Rican and Scandinavian.

Sarcodosis is difficult to detect because it has no symptoms and if it does, it depends on which organs are affected. Symptoms from sarcodosis in the lungs and lymph nodes include shortness of breath, a dry cough, wheezing, and enlarged and sometimes tender lymph nodes.