Lyme4 Channel's video: Mystery Disease in Philadelphia Is Targeting White People - CBS 01-11-2016

A mysterious medical disease that is only targeting white people is being investigated in the Montgomery County, PA. area. Doctors say that it’s a lung infection that has been linked to water. The disease is called Nontuberculous Mycobacteria or NTM. http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/nontuberculosis-mycobacteria/learn-about-ntm.html It’s a lung infection, similar to tuberculosis, that is caused by a bacteria found mainly in water but also in soil and in the air. Doctors say the number of patients is growing. The unlikely victims are white, thin, post-menopausal women who live in affluent neighborhoods around Philadelphia’s Main Line. http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/10/28/infection-baffling-doctors/ A study from the American Thoracic Society and the National Institutes Of Health identified 7 significant clusters of NTM around the country. One of the clusters was found in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area where significant clusters were identified in Montgomery County. Doctors say African-Americans and people who are heavy tend to not get NTM even though the bacteria that causes it is everywhere. So why do only certain people develop the infection? “We don’t know,” says Dr. Leah Lande, a pulmonologist at Lankenau Medical Center. “A lot of people are trying to figure that out now but that’s not really understood right now.” Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are naturally-occurring organisms found in water and soil. NTM lung infection occurs when a person inhales the organism from their environment. Most people do not become ill but for some susceptible individuals, a slowly progressive and destructive disease can occur. Key Facts Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are organisms naturally found in soil and water. NTM infections can become chronic and require ongoing treatment. Some patients, however, do not require treatment for their less severe infections. Treatment of NTM requires antibiotics for 1 to 2 years. What Is NTM? NTM are mycobacteria found throughout nature in water and soil. NTM represent over 150 different species, most of which do not seem to cause human disease except in individuals with a weak immune system. How NTM Affects Your Body Exposure to environmental sources of NTM can lead to NTM entering the lungs. In most individuals, the NTM organisms are cleared from the lung naturally and do not cause infection. In some people, the organism infects the airways and lung tissue leading to disease. This causes inflammation in the respiratory system. Without treatment, many people, but not all, will develop a progressive lung infection characterized by cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and often weight loss. How Serious Are NTM There are about 50,000 to 90,000 people with NTM pulmonary disease in the United States, with a much higher frequency in older adults. However, NTM can affect any age group. In some people NTM infections can become chronic and require ongoing treatment. Severe NTM lung disease can have a significant impact on quality of life. Death directly related to NTM lung disease is rare.