Avian tuberculosis, also known as mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) or MAC lung disease, is a respiratory illness. It can lead to symptoms such as chronic cough, shortness of breath, and weight loss.
MAC lung disease is an infection that can enter the body by inhaling organisms found in common areas such as soil, pool water, and household dust. The infection can also spread if you come into contact with contaminated food.
The condition usually isn’t harmful, and symptoms could remain dormant for months. However, people with an autoimmune disorder can experience much more intense symptoms that can be life threatening.
Read on to learn more about five common symptoms of MAC lung disease, how it’s diagnosed, and what treatments are available.
1. Fever
One of the earliest symptoms of MAC lung disease is fever .
A fever may start as a low grade fever under 100°F (about 38°C). It’s possible that a low grade fever can go away on its own, and it’s not a major cause for concern if you don’t have any other symptoms.
However, if your fever rises above 103°F (about 39°C), you should consider seeking immediate medical help.
2. Cough
MAC lung disease can often result in a cough due to inflammation and irritation in the respiratory system. If the infection is severe, it may cause you to cough up blood or begin wheezing.
Call 911 or seek emergency medical attention if you’re coughing up a significant amount of blood, if you have other symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, or if the bleeding worsens.
3. Fatigue
MAC lung disease can make you feel fatigued as your immune system fights off bacteria.
Fatigue isn’t unusual when you’re sick. But if you’re feeling fatigued and experiencing other symptoms of infection at the same time, or if you feel fatigued for days or weeks after other symptoms have subsided, you should seek medical support.
Long-term fatigue can also cause you to be unable to stay active or exercise.
Over time, your muscles can weaken and make it hard for your body to maintain its strength to do daily tasks and recover.
4. Weight loss
MAC lung disease is a wasting disease. This means it can cause cells and tissues in your body to break down and lose their ability to perform their usual functions.
Wasting diseases can cause tissue like muscle to break down, leading to weight loss even without changes to diet or lifestyle.
5. Swollen lymph nodes
Infectious bacteria can grow and spread into your lymph nodes, causing them to swell and create noticeable bulges under your skin.
This symptom is common when bacteria from MAC lung disease get into a cut or open wound, causing swelling in lymph nodes close to the wound.
How is it diagnosed?
A doctor will likely perform a physical exam first to check for signs of MAC lung disease.
They will then typically test for the presence of the bacteria by taking a culture of sputum (mucus) from your lungs.
These tests usually produce results within a few weeks, which a doctor can use to confirm a diagnosis of MAC lung disease .
Depending on your symptoms, a doctor may also order tests and scans to identify other ways that the disease has affected your body, such as:
Treatment options
Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics to treat MAC lung disease in order to kill the bacteria causing the infection.
Since this condition can be chronic and severe, a doctor might recommend a few different antibiotics to make sure you don’t become resistant to an antibiotic and increase your risk of an infection that’s even harder to treat.
Some antibiotics that a doctor might recommend include :
- macrolide (Azithromycin)
- rifampin (Rifadin)
- ethambutol (Myambutol)
- rifabutin (Mycobutin)
When to speak with a doctor
Speak with a doctor if you have severe symptoms of MAC lung disease that last for more than a few days, such as a fever or fatigue.
You should also speak with a doctor if you have an autoimmune condition and you’re concerned about the long-term effects of MAC lung disease, especially if your symptoms are not going away.
Takeaway
MAC lung disease is a respiratory illness that you can contract by inhaling organisms found in common areas such as soil, water, and household dust.
It can lead to symptoms such as a cough, fever, and fatigue.
If you notice any symptoms of MAC lung disease that persist after a few days, such as a fever, you should speak with a doctor.
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