| Introduction
Sarcoidosis
is a disease due to inflammation. It can appear in almost
any body organ, but most often starts in the lungs or
lymph nodes.
No one yet
knows what causes sarcoidosis. The disease can appear
suddenly and disappear. Or it can develop gradually and
go on to produce symptoms that come and go, sometimes
for a lifetime.
As sarcoidosis
progresses, small lumps, or granulomas, appear in the
affected tissues. In the majority of cases, these granulomas
clear up, either with or without treatment.
In the few
cases where the granulomas do not heal and disappear,
the tissues tend to remain inflamed and become scarred
(fibrotic).
Sarcoidosis
was first identified over 100 years ago by two dermatologists
working independently, Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson in England
and Dr. Caesar Boeck in Norway. Sarcoidosis was originally
called Hutchinson's disease or Boeck's disease. Dr. Boeck
went on to fashion today's name for the disease. Dr. Boeck
went on to fashion today's name for the disease from the
Greek words "sark" and "oid," meaning flesh-like. The
term describes the skin eruptions that are frequently
caused by the illness.
Usual Symptoms
Shortness of
breath (dyspnea) and a cough that won't go away can be
among the first symptoms of sarcoidosis. But sarcoidosis
can also show up suddenly with the appearance of skin
rashes. Red bumps (erythema nodosum) on the face, arms,
or shins, and inflammation of the eyes are also common
symptoms.
It is not unusual,
however, for sarcoidosis symptoms to be more general.
Weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, fever, or just an
overall feeling of ill health can also be clues to the
disease.
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