- see adult diseases
This disease is not common in children and is said to occur only after 10 years of age. It can affect any organ of the body but is most frequently found in the lungs, involving alveoli, tissues around them and the lymph glands in the centre of the chest. Lymph glands belong to the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system. Lymph nodes swell in many diseases which produce inflammation around the body; these include sarcoidosis, infections, lymphomas, cancer etc. In teenagers, sarcoidosis most commonly affects the eye.
Often lung sarcoidosis produces no symptoms. On the other hand, if the lung tissue is affected, lung scarring can develop. The result is loss of lung volume and abnormal lung stiffness. Breathlessness and cough as well as non-specific symptoms, such as lethargy, fevers and weight loss may be observed.
Sarcoidosis also frequently affects the liver, spleen, lymph glands in various sites, upper airways and skin. Occasionally it even affects the brain, heart and bones. The cause is unknown but it is thought that something may trigger a self-perpetuating immune response in susceptible people. It can run in families. Half of patients will improve spontaneously without treatment but drugs, such as steroids are used in severe cases.
