What is Sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is a condition where your immune system gets a bit too excited. It creates small lumps of inflammation in your body called granulomas.

Depending on how large these lumps are and where they grow, they can cause mild, severe, or no symptoms at all. Sometimes these lumps can cause permanent scarring of your organs, especially your lungs.

While these lumps can pop up almost anywhere, they are most commonly found in the lungs or the lymph nodes (small glands that help fight infections). They can also show up on your skin, eyes, or muscles.

What is a Granuloma?

Think of a granuloma as a tiny, hard lump made by your immune system. When your body thinks something toxic or harmful has entered, your white blood cells gather around it to protect you. They create a wall around the threat. This wall is surrounded by dense tissue, which makes the lumps feel hard.

Who gets Sarcoidosis?

Anyone can get sarcoidosis, but it follows a few patterns:

• It is more common in Black people than in white people.
• Women get it slightly more often than men.
• Most people find out they have it between the ages of 25 and 40.

You cannot directly inherit sarcoidosis from your parents. However, if your parent, child, or sibling has it, your risk of getting it is slightly higher.

How common is sarcoidosis?

It is a rare disease. It affects a very small percentage of people globally, meaning most people will never experience it.

What are the symptoms of sarcoidosis?

Your symptoms depend entirely on where the lumps are growing. Many people feel generally sick, while others have no symptoms at all.

General Symptoms

• Fever and night sweats
• Feeling very tired all the time
• Joint and muscle pain or weakness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Losing weight without trying
• Kidney stones

Lung Symptoms

• A cough that will not go away
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Wheezing

Eye Symptoms

• Blurry vision or losing your sight
• Eye pain
• Red or swollen eyes
• Sensitivity to bright light

Skin Symptoms

• Lumps under your skin, often near old scars or tattoos
• Light or dark patches on your skin
• A raised, reddish-purple rash on your cheeks or nose.
• Tender, red bumps on your shins

Heart Symptoms

• Chest pain
• A fluttering heart or an irregular heartbeat
• Heart failure
• Shortness of breath

Nerve and Brain Symptoms

• Headaches or seizures
• Feeling much thirstier than usual or peeing a lot
• Weakness or drooping on one side of your face (Bell's palsy)

What are the stages of lung sarcoidosis?

Doctors use a special system to divide lung sarcoidosis into stages from 0 to 4.

These stages do not always mean your illness is getting worse, and you do not have to go through every stage. They just tell the doctor what your chest X-ray looks like and where the lumps are located. The lumps can disappear at any stage. Only stage 4 involves permanent damage.

• Stage 0: Your chest X-ray looks completely normal.
• Stage 1: Lumps are only in your lymph nodes.
• Stage 2: Lumps are in both your lymph nodes and your lungs.
• Stage 3: Lumps are only in your lungs.
• Stage 4: The X-ray shows permanent scarring in your lungs.

What causes Sarcoidosis?

We do not know the exact cause. It seems to occur when a person with certain genes is exposed to an environmental factor, such as a specific virus or bacterium. This trigger causes their immune system to overreact. Even though the immune system is involved, it is not considered an autoimmune disease.

What is Löfgren's Syndrome?

This is a specific type of sarcoidosis that starts very suddenly. It usually includes a mix of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Pain in multiple joints
• Red, tender bumps on your shins
• Swollen lymph nodes in your chest

The good news is that this type usually resolves on its own within 6 months to 2 years.

What are the tests and diagnosis for sarcoidosis?

A doctor will look at your medical history, do a physical exam, and order imaging tests. Because sarcoidosis can resemble many other diseases, the doctor will want to rule out other conditions before making a final diagnosis. The tests are given below:

• Imaging: X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to take pictures inside your body.
• Biopsy: A doctor takes a small piece of tissue from a lump to look at it under a microscope. This is easy if the lump is on your skin or close to the surface. For lungs, the doctor might use a thin, flexible tube with a camera that goes down your nose or throat.
• Lung function tests: Simple breathing tests to check how well your lungs are working.
• Lab tests: Blood and urine tests to see how well your liver and kidneys are doing.
• Heart tests: An EKG to check the electrical activity of your heart.
• Nuclear scans: Special scans using a safe, tiny amount of radioactive material to find inflammation.
• TB skin test: A quick skin test to make sure you do not have tuberculosis, which looks a lot like sarcoidosis.
• Eye exam: A special light test to look inside your eyes for inflammation.

How is sarcoidosis treated?

Treatment aims to reduce your symptoms and protect your organs. There is no cure, but sarcoidosis often gets better on its own. If your symptoms are mild and not harmful, your doctor may decide to monitor you closely without prescribing medication.

If you do need treatment, doctors use medicines that calm down your immune system:

• Corticosteroids: Medicines like prednisone lower inflammation. They come as pills, inhalers, skin creams, or eye drops.
• Immunosuppressants: Stronger medicines, like methotrexate, that stop your immune system from damaging your organs.
• Biologics (Anti-TNF medicines): Advanced medicines given through a drip at a clinic to stop certain parts of the immune system from causing swelling.
• NSAIDs: Over-the-counter pain relievers that help with short-term pain and swelling.

What are the side effects of the medicine?

Steroids (corticosteroids) are very helpful, but using them for a long time can cause problems like:

• Weight gain and acne
• Trouble sleeping
• High blood pressure or diabetes
• Mood swings or depression
• Eye problems like glaucoma or cataracts
• Weak bones (osteoporosis)
• Easy bruising and a higher risk of infections

Because of these risks, your doctor will only prescribe these medicines if the benefits are greater than the possible side effects.

How soon will I feel better?

Most people start to feel better within a few weeks to a few months after starting treatment. Your doctor will keep checking on you and might repeat some tests to make sure the medicine is working.

What foods should I avoid?

Eating a healthy diet can help lower inflammation in your body. It might help to eat more plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, while cutting back on meat, cheese, processed sugars, and white bread. Always talk to your doctor before making big changes to your diet.

What is the long-term outlook?

For most people, sarcoidosis is a short-term issue that goes away on its own or with treatment. About two-thirds of people are completely clear of the disease within two to three years.

If you still have the disease after three years, it is more likely to be a long-term (chronic) condition. However, only a small number of these people suffer permanent organ damage.

Most people with sarcoidosis live a normal, full lifespan. It is only fatal in very rare cases.

How can I prevent sarcoidosis?

Right now, there is no way to prevent it because we do not know exactly what triggers it. The best thing you can do is take your medicines exactly as your doctor tells you to, which protects your organs from damage.

How do I take care of myself?

• Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
• Take your medicines on time.
• Keep track of how you feel and note any new changes.

When should I call my doctor?

Call your doctor if you develop any new symptoms, if your current symptoms worsen, or if you experience severe side effects from your medicine.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

• Is it better for me to take medicine or just monitor my symptoms for now?
• How long will it take for me to feel better?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• Are there any lifestyle or diet changes I should make?
• When do I need to come back for a follow-up visit?

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Sarcoidosis Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Sarcoidosis treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced pulmonologists and immunology specialists who provide accurate diagnosis and both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment options including corticosteroid therapy, immunosuppressive management, and comprehensive multisystem rehabilitation procedures. Our Pulmonology and Immunology team has decades of experience in successfully treating Sarcoidosis in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Sarcoidosis Treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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