Sarcoidosis is caused by the growth of tiny collections of granulomas or inflammatory cells in different parts of a patient’s body. It can appear in almost any organ, but most commonly it occurs in the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and skin. It is a tricky disease to diagnose and is often confused with other diseases like flu or respiratory infections. Therefore, it is essential that if you have any of the sarcoidosis symptoms and signs, you must get a chest X-Ray done to ensure proper diagnosis.

General symptoms
The most generally occurring sarcoidosis symptoms include

• night sweats,
• congestion,
• fatigue,
• fever,
• swollen lymph nodes, and
• weight loss.

Specific symptoms
Sarcoidosis symptoms and signs vary subject to the organs that are affected the most. In a lot of cases, sarcoidosis may lead to other issues such as kidney stones, increased levels of calcium in the bloodstream, and abnormal liver functions. The more specific symptoms that are concerned with other organs are as follows:

• Lung-related symptoms
  Sarcoidosis is a condition that most commonly affects the lungs and may lead to symptoms like dry cough, wheezing, or abnormal breathing, chest pain , and shortness of breath.

• Skin-related symptoms
  Sarcoidosis symptoms and signs may include certain specific skin-related symptoms like skin rashes or raised bumps on the skin, disfiguring lesions or sores on the nose, cheeks, and ears, and abnormal growth under the skin like nodules, specifically around scars or tattoos.

• Eye-related symptoms
  Sarcoidosis symptoms and signs may include some eye-related indicators like severe redness, blurred vision, pain in the eyes, and extreme sensitivity to light.

• Heart-related symptoms
  Several heart-related symptoms like swelling caused by excess fluid (also known as edema), chest pain, fainting or syncope, dyspnea (shortness of breath), fatigue, and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat and palpitations or rapid, fluttering heartbeat) are often witnessed by a sarcoidosis-affected patient.

Apart from the aforementioned symptoms, hoarse voice, kidney stones, seizures, dementia, depression, and painful joints may also indicate the onset of sarcoidosis. As per studies, sarcoidosis sometimes develops gradually and consequently, it may last for years. In certain cases, the signs appear suddenly and unexpectedly, and then disappear just as rapidly. Many patients suffering from sarcoidosis report no symptoms. Their issue may be diagnosed through routine tests, chest X-rays, and also from the patient’s medical history. Keep these sarcoidosis-related pointers in mind to ensure you get a timely diagnosis and treatment.