In this article, Niketrainers.com.co will tell you:
What is sarcoidosis and what are its causes?
Sarcoidosis is a disease in which there is the formation of small inflammatory nodules in various organs of the body.The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. Inflammatory nodules, called granulomas, are the site of an active disease process. Granulomas are formed by the accumulation of abnormally stimulated cells of the immune system, the so-called lymphocytes, macrophages. Sarcoidosismost often affects the lymph nodes of the central part of the chest, i.e. the mediastinum and the lungs, but it can affect any organ.
How common is sarcoidosis?
People of all ages, regardless of race, gender or age, suffer from sarcoidosis. Most often, however, it affects young adults aged 20-40. In Poland, about 10 people out of 100,000 suffer from sarcoidosis each year. Sarcoidosis is not an infectious disease. It has been reported more frequently in some families, but there is no evidence of inheritance.
How does sarcoidosis manifest?
Sarcoidosis may be asymptomatic. Approximately 30-40% of patients have non-specific symptoms, the so-called general symptoms includingincreased body temperature, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, feeling unwell, night sweats.
Symptoms may apply to an organ where the disease develops and may only be periodic. More than 70% of cases are sarcoidosis of the lungs and lymph nodes and therefore the symptoms are usuallycough, shortness of breath, wheezing, various forms of pain, e.g.pressure, burning.Enlarged lymph nodescan be seen as palpable lumps andbumps in the neck, armpits, and sometimes groin.
The onset of the disease may be acute with fever, joint pains, and skin lesions. The accompanying skin changes are called erythema nodosum.Erythema nodosumare spots of various sizes on the skin that are reddish-purple in color, sometimes warmer than healthy skin, and disappear without scarring but with persistent discoloration for weeks. They are most often located on the lower legs, sometimes the thighs and buttocks, and other parts of the body.
Much less often, sarcoidosis affects the nervous system, heart, eye, salivary glands, the symptoms are then associated with damage to the affected organ.
What to do in the event of symptoms suggestive of sarcoidosis?
In case of suspicious symptoms, you should immediately consult a primary care physician. A complete medical evaluation, including differential diagnosis, is necessary, i.e. the exclusion of other diseases with similar symptoms.
How does a doctor make a diagnosis of sarcoidosis?
There is no single diagnostic test for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. A series of tests are necessary to establish the diagnosis.
First, the doctor will take an interview and then examine the patient. Then he or she will order additional tests, usually lung X-rays and blood laboratory tests. When lung lesions are present, pulmonary function tests are often performed, as well as high-resolutioncomputed tomography of the lungs.Bronchofiberoscopic examination of the bronchi makes it possible to obtain material for tissue and cytological examinations necessary for the diagnosis of lung sarcoidosis. Sometimes it is necessary to take material for research during a surgical operation, i.e. mediastinal lymph nodes, lung tissue.
For other locations, other tests, such as MRI, are often necessary. Scintigraphic examination helps in recognizing extrapulmonary locations.
What are the treatments for sarcoidosis?
Not all forms of sarcoidosis should be treated. In most cases, the disease disappears on its own after a few weeks or months.
Sarcoidosis of the nervous system, eyesight and heart is always treated. In the case of localized sarcoidosis in the lungs, regular monitoring with assessment of lung function is necessary, and treatment is given where necessary.
The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, so treatment is symptomatic and mainly consists of anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce inflammation and limit the growth of granulomas. The goals of treatment are to maintain organ function, reduce symptoms, and prevent organ damage.
In the case of progressive pulmonary dysfunction, sarcoidosis of the nervous system, the organ of vision or the heart, glucocorticosteroids are used, most often in the form of tablets. Sometimes it is necessary to add other medicines to suppress activated cells of the immune system called immunosuppressants (e.g. methotrexate, azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine).
Medicines used in the treatment of sarcoidosis can cause side effects ranging from mild to potentially life-threatening, therefore treatment requires close monitoring and it is essential to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Is it possible to cure sarcoidosis completely?
The course of sarcoidosis varies, it is often referred to as a phase disease, which means that the active and inactive phases of the disease may alternate.
Most patients experience spontaneous remission, i.e. recovery within a few months to several years, or remission following treatment. In the remaining cases (20-30%), the course is chronic and progressive, causing permanent organ damage and disturbance of their functions. An acute onset withfeverand erythema nodosum or asymptomatic enlargement of the lymph nodes has a good prognosis.
What should I do after treatment for sarcoidosis is finished?
Most people with sarcoidosis lead a normal life. You should work closely with your doctor, following his recommendations. In the case of sarcoidosis, it is difficult to talk about the end of treatment. You should come for checkups, as the disease may recur. If you are taking medication, be aware of side effects.
The method of control depends on the type of disease and the method of treatment. In the case of lung sarcoidosis, these areradiologicaland functional tests of the lungs along with blood tests every few months, according to medical recommendations.
Remember to follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle, do not smoke.
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