Sarcoidosis, << `sahr` koy DOH sihs, >> is a disease in which small tumorlike lumps form in many parts of the body. Most scientists think it is caused by an excessive reaction by the immune system to an unknown stimulus. Scientists believe sarcoidosis is not contagious.
Sarcoidosis can occur in one or more organs, including the bones, eyes, liver, skin, and spleen. In most cases, it occurs in the lymph nodes of the chest and lungs. Lymph nodes are special tissues that help the body fight infection (see Lymphatic system ). The disease seldom causes death, but it can lead to severe lung damage or damage to other organs.
Symptoms of sarcoidosis may resemble those of cancer or tuberculosis. Sarcoidosis in the lungs may cause coughing, accompanied by fatigue or fever. But some victims of the disease never develop its symptoms.
A chest X ray can indicate the possibility of sarcoidosis, but final diagnosis requires examination of tissue from one of the lumps. Sometimes lung tissue must be examined to confirm the diagnosis.
Most sarcoidosis victims are from 20 to 40 years old. Ireland, Norway, and Sweden have reported the most cases of sarcoidosis in proportion to population. In the United States, the disease occurs among a higher proportion of African Americans and Puerto Ricans than of other groups. Some sarcoidosis patients have been effectively treated with the drug cortisone. Many people who have the disease in only the chest or lungs recover without treatment in a period ranging from a month to two years.
