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Signs, Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms and Signs of NTM Lung Disease Include:1 

red and orange icon depicting human coughing with throat obstruction
  • Cough – may be persistent or periodic and you may or may not cough out sputum
  • Shortness of breath (breathlessness)
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) or thick mucus
  • Chest pain around the lung area
  • Fatigue, lack of energy
  • Weight loss and loss of appetite
  • Night sweats, fever

Some patients with NTM infections are also vulnerable to other bacterial infections such as aspergillus and pseudomonas.2

Diagnosis of NTM Pulmonary Disease Involves:1

  • Sputum culture to test for NTM  and identify the strain of mycobacteria causing the infection
  • Chest x-ray to indicate an NTM infection is present and a CT (computed tomography) scan to show extent and location of disease. The CT scan can show nodules, sometimes referred to as “tree-in-bud” because they look like branches
  • Medical history to help your doctor understand why certain underlying lung conditions exist

Treatment goals include:1

  • Negative sputum (mucus) culture test
  • Reduced symptoms
  • Improved chest x-ray and CT scan

References

1. Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). (Last accessed February 23, 2024).

2. What is NTM? Bronchiectasis and NTM 360°. COPD Foundation. (Last accessed January 17, 2024).

3. Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Infections. CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Last accessed January 17, 2024).

4. Joseph O Falkinham. Environmental Sources of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria. Clinics in Chest Medicine 2014;36(1):35-41.

5. Jyotsna Bhattacharya,  , et al. Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections in Children. Pediatrics In Review 2019;40(4):179-190. 

6. Nutrition Guide. NTM Info & Research, Inc. (Last accessed January 17, 2024).

7. NTM Lung Disease Treatment. NTM Info & Research, Inc.  - Medications (Last accessed January 17, 2024).

8. NTM Lung Disease Treatment. NTM Info & Research, Inc. - Reducing Exposure (Last accessed January 17, 2024).

9. Joseph O Falkinham. Reducing Human Exposure to Mycobacterium avium. Annals of the American Thoracic Society 2013;10(4):378-382.

10. O'Donnell DE, Parker CM.  COPD exacerbations 3: Pathophysiology. Thorax 2006;61:354-361. 

11. Wolkove N,   et al.  Use of a Mucus Clearance Device Enhances the Bronchodilator Response in Patients With Stable COPD. CHEST 2002;121(3):702-707.

12. NTM Info & Research, Inc. (Last accessed January 17, 2024). 

13. NTM Info & Research, Inc. (Last accessed February 23, 2024).