World Sarcoidosis Day
April 13 · Level 3 · #1681 of 2238
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease in which clusters of immune cells, called granulomas, form in the body's organs, most often the lungs. The day exists so that the condition is spotted sooner and people living with it feel less alone.
How it is celebrated: patient groups and doctors share information leaflets, host open talks and online meetups, and people post their own diagnosis stories on social media. In many countries April also brings longer awareness campaigns.
The name comes from a misleading resemblance: in 1899 the dermatologist Caesar Boeck called the skin lesions he saw "sarcoid", meaning sarcoma-like, even though the disease is not a cancer.