April Is National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month

In 2008, Congress declared April as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month to bring more attention to this rare, multisystem disease. Five years later, we are slowly but surely making progress, both in public awareness and in research of sarcoidosis. Purple is the color of the ribbon for sarcoidosis awareness.

Sarcoidosis causes inflammation, called granuloma, in different areas of the body. Because it can appear anywhere from the lungs to the eyes to the heart, it can manifest in a variety of symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, skin sores, and lumps in the lungs—or no symptoms at all. With treatment, many people recover, although it can take several years. Others may have a harder time and can suffer greater organ damage. Even when symptoms subside, called remission, sarcoidosis can return. In rare cases, sarcoidosis is fatal. Researchers don't yet know what causes sarcoidosis.