Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease, most often strikes the lungs. Although sarcoidosis can occur in any of the organs in the body, pulmonary sarcoidosis is the most common. The lumps, called granulomas, appear, heal, and then disappear without rhyme or reason.
The granulomas that are left behind and do not heal, causing scars and leaving the tissues in an inflamed condition. Thus, pulmonary sarcoidosis can quickly turn into a fibrotic condition that results in difficulty breathing. Another resulting condition, bronchiectasis, can create infection in the bronchial tubes.
Pulmonary sarcoidosis sufferers are at risk for lung volume loss. The symptoms of pulmonary sarcoidosis are weight loss, fatigue, difficulty breathing, a rash on the body, especially the shins, the arms, and the face, reddened sclera, coughing, fever, and nighttime sweating. Because pulmonary sarcoidosis is often mistaken for other diseases, you will need to undergo diagnostic measures by your physician.
No one escapes the risk categories in pulmonary sarcoidosis. Both genders and every race are subject to this disease. However, it most commonly strikes people of German,Irish, Scandinavian, African-American, and Puerto Rican descents.
Pulmonary sarcoidosis is diagnosed by a physical examination, past medical history, and other testing to determine this condition. Additional medical testing would include biopsies, laboratory testing, pulmonary function testing, a chest x-ray, and/or a bronchoalveolar lavage. The most common means of determining whether one has pulmonary sarcoidosis or not is by process of elimination, as pulmonary sarcoidosis resembles other diseases and is often mistaken for such.
More serious cases of pulmonary sarcoidosis will cause added problems for the sufferer. These problems could include fibrocystic disease, bronchiectasis, as mentioned earlier, interstitial lung disease, aspergilloma, or pulmonary hypertension.
When treating pulmonary sarcoidosis the physician will gear treatment on an individual basis depending on the symptoms of the patient. He or she will take into consideration several factors, which will include your medical history, the severity of the disease, your suspected outcome, how well you are able to tolerate medication, and what type of treatment you would like for your disease.
As treatment will often be administered with the use of corticosteroids, there can be major side effects so careful consideration will have to be taken when using this form of treatment. Pulmonary sarcoidosis is rare, but can occur. Many individuals who suffer from sarcoidosis will be able to tolerate its symptoms without any type of treatment plan. Sarcoidosis is generally a mild disease, waxes, and wanes, but eventually will go away not to return. However, this could take many years. A minor 30 per cent of people who develop sarcoidosis, however, will find the disease with them for a good part of their lives.
Any person who suffers from sarcoidosis should be under the close observation of a physician to receive the best treatment plan and options available to them.
RESOURCES
Wexner Medical Center: Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
University of Chicago Medicine: Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: A Concise Review of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis