February 28th is Rare Disease Day, a globally coordinated movement ‘dedicated to rare diseases, striving for equity in social opportunities, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for people living with rare disease’.
In support of this campaign, our medical negligence team is placing a spotlight on Sarcoidosis.
What is sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammatory disease that can affect different parts of the body. It is a condition which causes the formation of small lumps called granulomas to develop in an organ of the body. Granulomas are made up of clusters of cells and if many granulomas form in an organ, they can prevent it from working properly.
There are different types of sarcoidosis. It most often affects the lungs, and this is known as Pulmonary Sarcoidosis, however, it can also affect the skin, eyes, joints, muscles and bones. It can also have a significant effect on the nervous and cardiac systems.
How rare is sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis affects around 1-2 people per 10,000 in the UK and is therefore classified as a rare disease.
Anybody can be affected by sarcoidosis, but it is most commonly diagnosed in people aged between 20 and 40 years old.
How can the disease be misdiagnosed?
Diagnosing sarcoidosis can be challenging and it is often misdiagnosed as another condition due to the varied symptoms people can experience.
Symptoms of sarcoidosis depend on which area of the body is affected, but they can include:
- persistent cough
- palpitations
- irregular heartbeat
- feeling breathless
- pains in joints muscles or bones
- fatigue
- night sweats
- skin rashes
How are patients affected by a delay in diagnosis?
Delayed diagnosis of sarcoidosis can potentially lead to permanent organ damage, increased symptoms and treatment not being as successful as it could be.
How can we help?
If you or a loved one has suffered a delay in diagnosis of sarcoidosis, then it may be possible to pursue a claim for medical negligence. We are here to help you get the answers you deserve and the compensation you need to get your life back on track.
Contact our specialist medical negligence team here for a free no-obligation consultation or call us on 0800 987 880. Alternatively, please email us at medneg@bmcf.co.uk.
Medical Negligence Specialists – Bridge McFarland LLP
Medicalnegligence.co.uk is owned and operated by Bridge McFarland LLP, an established and nationally recognised law firm renowned for specialist expertise in medical negligence claims and experience in this complex area of law. With our determination and commitment to providing our clients with an exceptional standard of service, we have held the highly regarded Lexcel quality mark since June 2008.
References and useful resources:
https://www.sarcoidosisuk.org/
https://www.rarediseaseday.org/