Sarcoidosis is a rare disease that causes inflammation and scar
tissue throughout the body, especially the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, skin, and
eyes.
The cause of sarcoidosis is not known. It occurs most often
in young and middle-aged adults.
Symptoms may include fever, body
aches, swelling of the lymph glands, breathlessness, a reddish rash on the
face, painful joints, and numbness. But sometimes sarcoidosis does not
cause any symptoms. It may lead to lung (respiratory) failure and heart
problems in some cases.
Sarcoidosis may require long-term
treatment (lasting months to years) with corticosteroids and other medicines,
especially if it causes severe breathing problems or affects the brain and
heart.