Understanding Sarcoidosis -- Diagnosis and Treatment
Understanding Sarcoidosis -- Diagnosis and Treatment
If your doctor suspects sarcoidosis, he or she will do the following:
In 90% of people with sarcoidosis, chest X-rays show abnormalities. Many patients also have a low white blood cell count. Your doctor may also order pulmonary-function tests, which measure how well your lungs are working. Tissue biopsies (tests on small tissue samples) from your lungs may be done to look for other diseases, such as fungal infection or lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system), which may resemble sarcoidosis on a chest X-ray.
Is Bronchitis Contagious?
Bronchitis makes you cough -- a lot. It can make it hard to breathe, too, and can cause wheezing, fever, tiredness, and chest pain. The disease happens when the lining of the airways in your lungs gets irritated.
Read the Is Bronchitis Contagious? article > >
Many people with sarcoidosis have mild symptoms and do not require any treatment. Often, the disease gets better on its own. However, for patients with more pronounced symptoms, corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone, or other immunosuppressive medications, are the recommended therapy. The main goals of treatment are to keep the patient comfortable by reducing symptoms and to maintain proper functioning of any affected organs. At this time, there is no treatment available to reverse the pulmonary fibrosis (scarring in the lungs) that may accompany severe sarcoidosis.
There is no known way to prevent sarcoidosis.
How Do I Know If I Have Sarcoidosis?
If your doctor suspects sarcoidosis, he or she will do the following:
- Review your medical history
- Perform a physical exam
- Order chest X-rays and blood tests that may aid in the diagnosis
In 90% of people with sarcoidosis, chest X-rays show abnormalities. Many patients also have a low white blood cell count. Your doctor may also order pulmonary-function tests, which measure how well your lungs are working. Tissue biopsies (tests on small tissue samples) from your lungs may be done to look for other diseases, such as fungal infection or lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system), which may resemble sarcoidosis on a chest X-ray.
Recommended Related to Lung Disease/Respiratory Problems
Is Bronchitis Contagious?
Bronchitis makes you cough -- a lot. It can make it hard to breathe, too, and can cause wheezing, fever, tiredness, and chest pain. The disease happens when the lining of the airways in your lungs gets irritated.
Read the Is Bronchitis Contagious? article > >
What Are the Treatments for Sarcoidosis?
Many people with sarcoidosis have mild symptoms and do not require any treatment. Often, the disease gets better on its own. However, for patients with more pronounced symptoms, corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone, or other immunosuppressive medications, are the recommended therapy. The main goals of treatment are to keep the patient comfortable by reducing symptoms and to maintain proper functioning of any affected organs. At this time, there is no treatment available to reverse the pulmonary fibrosis (scarring in the lungs) that may accompany severe sarcoidosis.
How Can I Prevent Sarcoidosis?
There is no known way to prevent sarcoidosis.
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