October 1991
TB or not TB?
The slings and arrows of cousin MAI
As recently as two years ago
many doctors refused to treat
Mycobacterium avium Intracellulare
(MAI). These doctors claimed that
MAI was not life-threatening, and
that no drug therapy was effective
against MAI, both of which have
proven false. Today it is widely
acknowledged that MAI is a common
infection to most people--not just
PWA' s.
Seventeen to twenty-nine
percent of AIDS patients are
diagnosed with MAI, but autopsies
have revealed MAI in 50-56% of
those who are HIV+. It begins as a
pathogen in the gastrointestinal
tract; it becomes an asymptomatic
blood and bone marrow infection,
then evolves into a symptomatic,
serious illness. This more intelligent
cousin of tuberculosis doesn't limit
itself to the lungs, either. It
disseminates into many organs and
tissues like the liver and spleen, and
has a frightening knack for
becoming immune to antibiotics.
This is perhaps one of the reasons
why doctors are continually
frustrated by it.
The bacteria that cause MAI
are found in dust, dirt, animals and
their droppings, and less commonly,
tap water. The infection usually
occurs in those with less than 50 T4
cells (30% of PWA's), and anecdotal
evidence suggests that MAI takes
effect approximately one year after
the first attack of pneumocystis
pneumonia. The trouble is. it takes
awhile to find the bacteria in the
system.
Tests can be conducted
regularly for several weeks, and the
bacteria can still remain hidden.
False negatives in testing are more
likely to appear in those with T cell
counts below 100, i.e. most people
who would contract MAI in the first
place. This is the reason why MAI
so often goes undiagnosed.
The symptoms of MAI are the
ones most commonly associated
with HIV/AIDS: fever, night sweats,
abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea,
swollen glands, and profound weight
loss (also called wasting syndrome).
As was mentioned before, MAI hits
after the system has been debilitated
with other infections, so dealing with
MAI can be a difficult, miserable
experience. Fortunately though,
researchers have found several
methods of combatting the infection:
1) avoid all uncooked fruits and
vegetables in which the skin is
eaten, 2) take great care to wash all
foods and cookware, 3) cook fresh
meats thoroughly, and 4) various
therapies that have had notable
effects in the laboratory and
elsewhere. Not long ago, the only
treatments for MAI were rigorous,
toxic combinations of several
chemicals. Today, more tolerable
therapies exist, for example:
ciprofloxacin, clofazamine, and
clarithromycin (as always, please
consult your health care
professional).
MAI was once practically
untouchable, but research
continues, and DBC will continue to
relay information.
Correction
The September issue of
NEWSource featured an article on
page one dealing with current research
and progress with Psychotonin M, a
liquid form of hypericin ("The Scoop on
Psychotonin M"). Paragraph four
stated that "Dr. Meruelo and his team
appear to have resolved chronic cases
of hepatitis B with just a few doses of
liquid hypericin (Psychotonin M)." First
of all, Dr. Meruelo, while he has done
extensive research with hypericins,
had nothing to do with the hepatitis B
study. Secondly, and most
importantly, the hepatitis B study did
at involve Psychotonin M. It was
conducted with a form of hypericin
much higher in concentration than
Psychotonin M.Also, NEWSource
regrets the omission of documentation
which cited J.J. Gerhardt and Steven
Wm. Fowkes as authors of the primary
source article ("Hypericin", Forefront,
Vol. 6, No. 6, Issue #31, July, 1991).
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