Signs and Symptoms of Sarcoidosis

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

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.