Sarcoidosis Presenting as Fatigue and Weakness

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2021 Feb;31(2):218-220. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2021.02.218.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown cause that occurs in both men and women of all races. It typically presents in patients after 20 years of age. Sarcoidosis most frequently involves the lung, but up to 30 percent of patients present with extra-thoracic manifestations. It can involve multiple organs to a variable extent and degree. In areas, where tuberculosis is endemic, the diagnosis of sarcoidosis may be overlooked and misdiagnosed because of clinical and radiographic resemblance. Herein, we present a case of a middle-aged man who visited multiple physicians with constitutional symptoms and was treated symptomatically but did not improve. He later developed skin lesions which were biopsied and led to correct diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Hence, a clinician should be aware of all the spectrums of presentations of rare diseases like sarcoidosis and always keep it as a differential when treating common diseases like tuberculosis. Key Words: Sarcoidosis, Skin lesions, Fatigue.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Female
  • Granuloma
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sarcoidosis* / complications
  • Sarcoidosis* / diagnosis
  • Sarcoidosis* / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis* / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis* / drug therapy