10 Symptoms of Sarcoidosis

By iliriana

Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky

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Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with an unknown cause which can affect various organs in the human body. Usually sarcoidosis affects the lungs and lymph nodes, but the heart, liver, the eyes, and skin can be affected as well. As mentioned, even though sarcoidosis can affect any organ, in more than 90% of cases it affects the lungs.

Sarcoidosis can affect both genders, even though females have a higher risk of suffering from sarcoidosis compared to males, especially after the age of 50 years old. Sarcoidosis most commonly affects people between 30 and 55 years of age.

In cases when an inflammation develops, clumps of inflammatory cells become granulomas. Granuloma, when formed, will interfere with the normal function of the organ where they develop. Major sarcoidosis symptoms include:

Symptom #1: Swelling of the Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are located all over the human body and their role is to make and store white blood cells. Sarcoidosis affects the lymph nodes as well, in almost 90% of cases.

In cases where inflammation of the lymph glands develops, they will become enlarged and not tender in touch. Even though swollen lymph nodes can be quite uncomfortable, they rarely cause any problem unless they put pressure on the blood vessels, nerves, or organ tissue.

Enlarged lymph nodes are commonly seen in the chest, neck, armpit, groin, and under the chin.