DEAR DR. GOTT: A family member was recently diagnosed with mycobacteria avium complex pulmonary disease, also known as MAC. Can you please provide information on this unheard of condition? What causes it? Is it contagious? What are the symptoms? What exactly is it? Can it be cured or is it a lifetime thing? Can it recur if it is cured? What is the treatment?
Please provide as much information as possible and as soon as possible. Thank you so much. Please keep up the good work of providing medical information with a common sense approach.
DEAR READER: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is essentially a pulmonary pathogen for those on immuno-suppressive chemotherapy and refers to both non-tuberculosis M. [Read more...]