Sarcoidosis

It can't be cured, but you take steroids for the inflammation.

Yes it can.

In some cases, taking calcium or vitamin D supplements can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis caused by long-term use of steroid medication.

There are four syllables like so: Sar-coid-o-sis.

Symptoms of sarcoidosis may come and go, and can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers so they don't affect everyday life. Most people with the condition find their symptoms have disappeared within a few years of their diagnosis.

For some people with sarcoidosis, the condition slowly gets worse over time and they end up with organ damage. For example, their lungs may stop working properly, causing increasing breathlessness.

Help is available for people with severe, persistent sarcoidosis - ask your doctor for advice.

The skin is affected in about 25% of people with sarcoidosis.

This can cause tender, red bumps or patches to develop on the skin (particularly the shins), as well as rashes on the upper body

The frequency for neurological involvement for all cases of sarcoid disease is 5%. However, neurological involvement has been reported to occur in up to 5% to 16% of cases.

Corticosteroid drugs remain the primary treatment for inflammation and granuloma formation. There is no treatment at present to reverse the lung scarring (fibrosis) that might be present in advanced sarcoidosis. Because sarcoidosis can disappear even without therapy, even doctors sometimes disagree on when to start the treatment. Various other drugs have been tried, but their effectiveness has not been established in controlled studies. These drugs include chloroquine (Aralen) and D-penicillamine. Several drugs such as chlorambucil (Leukeran), azathioprine (Imuran), methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), which might suppress alveolitis by killing the cells that produce granulomas, have also been used.

It could be but this is not the place to get a diagnosis. Talk to a doctor.

Perhaps, if they are steroid inhalers.

Sarcoidosis can affect people of any age, but usually starts in young adults aged between 20 and 50. It is rare in childhood.

The condition affects people from all ethnic backgrounds, but it's most common in people of African descent.

I am sure it depends on the stage of sarcoid a person has. i was diagnosed with sarcoid (lungs) 14 years ago and have been able to maintain a fulltime job during this time while missing very little work. My biggest struggle is getting tired by midday. Ironically i feel better when at work than on weekends or off time. My mind is occupied on work rather than my sarcoid. Some days are better than others. I recommend getting plently of rest and sleep each night and good preparation for the work days.

Yes, it can attack any organ.

Yes. Many have had children.

Methadone is used to treat drug addiction to opiate drugs and is also used for pain management in some cases.

It is thought that sarcoidosis happens because the immune system has gone into "overdrive", where the body starts to attack its own tissues and organs. The resulting inflammation then causes granulomas to develop in the organs.

There are many similar conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, that are caused by the body attacking its own tissues. These are collectively known as autoimmune conditions.

It is not known why the immune system behaves like this, but research is being carried out to see what triggers sarcoidosis.

what does Sarcoidosis on the skin look like and can it only affect the skin?

It is sarcoidosis of the liver.

There seems to be no connection found at this time.

The American Academy of Dermatology has a member base of over 16,000 board-certified dermatologists, so they represent virtually all practicing dermatologists in the United States and Canada. The link will take you to their "Find a Dermatologist" page. http://www.aad.org/findaderm/

Sarcoidosis of the lungs can be divided into four stages. Stage 0 - No intrathoracic involvement. Stage I - Bilateral hilar adenopathy. Stage II - Pulmonary parenchyma involved. Stage III - Pulmonary infiltrates with fibrosis. Stage 4 is end-stage lung disease with pulmonary fibrosis and honeycombing.

Hopefully steroids will stop it at this stage.