Granulomas are collections of white blood cells such as macrophages, plasma cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes, that come together as a group to fight against any fungi and bacteria that the body has a hard time getting rid of. They also form to fight viral diseases and foreign substances. Granulomas are a form of inflammation which can result from a variety of lung diseases.
Wegener's Granulomatosis
Every year, there are approximately 12 cases of Wegener's granulomatosis for every million people, according to "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2010." This is a disease that involves inflammation in the arteries and capillaries of the kidneys, but also involve granulomas in the lungs. Most people with Wegener's granulomatosis are middle-aged. The disease develops in just four to 12 months, but if people do not get treatment, they usually have less than a year to live after a diagnosis. The symptoms can include otitis media, or infection of the middle ear, a congested nose, difficulty breathing, sinusitis, cough and spitting up blood. People may have more symptoms if they have inflammation in other areas of the body, especially the kidneys.
Tuberculosis
A bacterium named Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis. People can develop this lung disease when they inhale droplets in the air after an infected person sneezes or coughs. The droplets with the bacteria can even stay in a room's air for many hours, as explained by The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. Inside the lungs, macrophages eat the bacteria, but if any M. tuberculosis inside the macrophages are still alive, they can reproduce and kill the macrophages. Cells that fight inflammation travel to the problem area, and in a few weeks, granulomas develop. If any bacteria gets into the bloodstream, they can travel throughout the body. This is called miliary tuberculosis, where there are small granulomas in the lungs and other organs. Symptoms of tuberculosis include night sweats, weight loss, cough, loss of appetite and fever.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a disease that can affect every organ in the body. It almost always affects the lungs and involves granulomas. Scientists do not know what causes sarcoidosis. The various hypotheses are explained in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Some hypothesize that something triggers the inflammation in people who are genetically susceptible. Others suggest that several combined substances cause it. But whatever the cause, various white blood cells accumulate to form granulomas. The granulomas may or may not go away. The symptoms can include weight loss, cough, difficulty breathing and fever. People may also have other symptoms if sarcoidosis affects other areas of the body. They can have arthritis, problems with their eyes, skin, kidneys, heart, nervous system, liver and lymph nodes.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2010"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2010
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony Fauci, M.D., Dennis Kasper, M.D., Dan Longo, M.D., et al.; 2008
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Tuberculosis (TB)
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sarcoidosis - Overview
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Wegener's granulomatosis - Overview
