How Can Mac Be Treated

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Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)

Can MAC Be Prevented? The bacteria that cause MAC are very common. It is not possible to avoid being exposed. The best way to prevent MAC is to take strong antiretroviral medications (ARVs). Even if your CD4 cell count drops very low, there are drugs that can stop MAC disease from developing in up to 50% of people. The antibiotic drugs azithromycin, rifabutin and clarithromycin have been used to prevent MAC. These drugs are usually prescribed...

Ask the Experts

mac

My mother has Crohn's disease. As a result of long-term use of predinose, she has little immunity. Therefore, she has MAC. It had manifested in her calves causing sores. They cleared and now there's concern that the MAC has traveled...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

MAC infection has been found in the brain but that is an unusual site. When a person's immune system is damaged by infection or medication, then usually the MAC can be controlled but not cured. MAC is typically treated with a combination of 2... Read more »

MAC again?

Hi,I was recently told I have MAC again. I have a CD4 count of 207 and previously had MAC when I had zero CD4s for three years (five years ago). What does it mean to have MAC again with numbers this high?...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Once acquired, MAC is never totally banished from the body of a person with a damaged immune system, even if it is not causing symptoms. You may be experiencing an "immune reconstitution syndrome". This happens when you have already... Read more »

bronchiectasis & mac

My mother has bronchiectasisand mac. Please let me knowif research is going on ora doctor for this...

Response from Judith A. Aberg, M.D.

Washington University, St. Louis School of Medicine

This is a web site aimed at questions regarding HIV. You do not say if your mother has HIV or not. The reason I ask is because MAC in a person without HIV may be quite different from MAC with an intact immune system. MAC (Mycobacterium avium... Read more »

AIDS/MAC & Refusal of Treatment

I'm a Shanti-trained emotional support volunteer. My patient has AIDS and was diagnosed with MAC in November (1996).He is refusing treatment, both for AIDS and MAC. I see plenty of information on what will happen to folks who treat MAC,but what...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

The main symptoms of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) are fevers, chills, and night sweats, caused by the presence of the bacteria in the blood. With time weight loss and wasting generally occur. If untreated MAC will go on to... Read more »

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MAC. & low cd-4

Posted by danni, 3 Replies

i am terrified, i just learned that i have mac. my viral load is 87,000, my cd-4; only 14. my doc. did start meds for me, but i can't get past the fear that it's too late. with my blood counts, is mac, a sure death sentence? i appreciate any... Read more »

MAC IV Therapy

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I'm thinking of stopping IV therapy for MAC....can anyone tell me if they've done that...and if so.....did you feel better or worse without the meds? My CD4+ cell count is still below 50.....the meds make me feel so awful I have to wonder if the MAC... Read more »

Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)

Posted by Anonymous

Good day! I just found out that I have some bacteria in my blood. I'm low with t4cell at 1 so my doctor says that I have MAC. I wanted to know if anyone has experience this and has anyone gotten better. This could explain my many symptoms... Read more »

MAC Therapy and Thank you's

Posted by EMDD

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragment....I made the leap and stopped MAC therapy....3 days and counting....I feel so much more like my old self....I was beginning to think I never would again.....life is good....my best advice is to do... Read more »

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