Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition which affects the lungs, lymph nodes and many other organs.The affected organs get inflamed and have altered functions. There are small red swollen patches on the skin. The symptoms may go away on their own in some cases. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are useful to control the condition.

The common symptoms of sarcoidosis are as follows: shortness of breath; cough; reddish patches on the skin; enlarged lymph nodes; fever; fatigue; weight loss; pain in the joints; red and watery eyes; kidney stone; and headache.

The symptoms of sarcoidosis are similar to many other conditions making the diagnosis difficult. The doctor will diagnose in the following way after examining the patient's history: physical examination; blood test; chest x-ray; CT scan to get images of the lungs; bronchoscopy (internal examination of bronchi); and biopsy (surgical removal of a small tissue for testing).

Researchers have pointed out the involvement of genes responsible for the immune responses. Hence, sarcoidosis is a hereditary condition. So there are chances that you may be at a greater risk of having sarcoidosis if your parents have it.

In most of the cases, the symptoms of sarcoidosis can go away without any treatment. The treatment options for sarcoidosis are as follows: painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen to control pain; steroid containing medicines to treat the inflammation; and immunosuppressants to suppress the immune responses.