Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that can attack any organ of the body. However, it is most frequently found in the lungs. Sarcoidosis is characterized by the presence of small areas of inflammed cells called granulomas. They can also appear as sores on the skin.
Sarcoidosis causes a variety of symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Patients suffering from pulmonary sarcoidosis may have a dry cough, shortness of breath and chest pain. There also can be fatigue, weakness and weight loss. For those cases where the disease appears outside the lungs, symptoms can include fever, painful joints, scaly rashes, and bloodshot eyes. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based on the patient's medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, lung function studies, and chest x-ray. The diagnosis is confirmed by eliminating other diseases having similar symptoms and performing a biopsy on any of the affected organs.