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Granulomatous Disease Symptoms

A granuloma forms when an area of tissue within the body becomes inflamed as a result of tissue damage. Granulomas are most often found in the lungs and are sometimes mistaken for cancer on X-rays. Two types of common granuomatous diseases are tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. Granuloma may also accompany a fungal lung infection known as histoplasmosis.

  1. Tuberculosis Symptoms

    • Tuberculosis is a serious lung infection that does not produce symptoms in every infected individual. Some individuals may have latent tuberculosis, which is not active in the body. Those individuals with active tuberculosis may experience weight loss, fever, chills, fatigue, night sweats, prolonged coughing (sometimes with the expulsion of blood) and chest pain.

    Sarcoidosis Symptoms

    • Sarcoidisis is a disease that causes clusters of inflammatory cells to develop in various parts of the body. It commonly occurs in the lungs and causes a persistent cough and shortness of breath. Other symptoms include fatigue, fever and weight loss. Sarcoidisis may affect an individual briefly or it may last for years.

    Histoplasmosis Symptoms

    • Histoplasmosis is a disease that is contracted by breathing in infected spores when working around soil contaminated with the histoplasmosis capsulatum fungus. Most otherwise healthy people do not develop symptoms of histoplasmosis; however, infants and those individuals with a weak immune system are more susceptible to the infection and may develop serious complications. Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, dry cough, chest pain and weight loss.

    Treatment for Granulomas

    • According to Mayo Clinic, most granulomas do not require treatment. In general, lung granulomas are treated by addressing the underlying cause to prevent further granulomas from forming.

    Treatment for Granulomas Diseases

    • To completely rid the body of the tuberculosis infection, affected individuals will need to take a course of several antibiotics lasting six to nine months. Sarcoidosis rarely needs treatment; however, if it is a severe case a physician will probably prescribe prednisone, which is strong anti-inflammatory drug. Similarly, histoplasmosis also rarely needs treatment. More severe cases are treated with anti-fungal medications and possibly corticosteroids as well.

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