How do patients with MAC lung present?
Patients with bronchiectasis as their risk factor usually present with chronic coughing and some amount of sputum. Sometimes the sputum is yellowish, greenish, or bloody, but most often is whitish to clear. Chest films sometimes appear abnormal noting adhesions or nodules. The patient will frequently report a history of repeated bouts of bronchitis, pneumonias, shortness of breath, and chest congestion. Patients also complain of mild, moderate, or even severe chronic fatigue and inability to participate in activities of daily living. Sometimes the symptoms of bronchiectasis are much more subtle and fatigue is the only significant complaint. Some patients are not accurately diagnosed until the MAC is quite active or until accidentally seen via a chest film or CT scan that shows pulmonary adhesions, infiltrates, or nodular activity. There may already be bilateral nodular activity and bronchiectasis commonly in the right middle lobe at the time of diagnosis. Other symptoms of illness in M
