There are no real statistics about how many cases of sarcoidosis actually exist. It can affect anyone of any age, race or gender, but appears mostly among African Americans (for whom the chances of developing the disease may be as high as 2 percent) and those with Scandinavian ancestry. The appearance of sarcoidosis is slightly higher for women than men.
The symptoms outside the lungs can include chronic uveitis in African American eyes; skin lumps in Northern European Americans; and problems with the eyes and heart in Japanese Americans.
Some common signs include inflamed lumps in the lungs, causing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or chest pain. Patients also may experience extreme tiredness, depression or anxiety, as well as night sweats and weight loss. In some cases, sarcoidosis may enlarge the lymph nodes in the neck and chest, under the chin, in the armpits, and the groin. It can also cause lumps, ulcers or areas of discolored skin that itch. The skin patches can linger for a long time.
Sarcoidosis in Children
Children who may have the disease often exhibit a loss of appetite, joint and bone pain, and fatigue accompanied by weight loss. Children younger than age 4 may experience enlarged chest lymph nodes, eye swelling or redness, and skin lesions.