I don't want to start or encourage a argument here, and I feel bad that there were negative comments made. In an ideal world, there would be endless funds to study diseases and find cures. However, we live in a world that is far from ideal.

While this very engaging article (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00303/full) and uses
terms that lead one to think NTM/MAC/MAI is "surging" we are not talking about any kind of cause for alarm here.

First, let me say that I am not certain whether the prevalence of NTM is increasing, or its diagnosis. I know of several people who were sputum-tested this winter after CT scans showed bronchiectasis - 2 of them have had symptoms for a while - but not the almost 5 years that I did.

Second, as to being "on the rise and not only in the immune compromised" - it seems in my reading that most cases are still among people who are either immunocompromised, or who have underlying lung conditions that have caused damage - Cystic Fibrosis, COPD, emphysema, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis or asthma, or pneumonia (and now COVID) lung damage. It is entirely possible that people with lung diseases, especially CF, are living longer because of better treatment of their primary ailment, and eventually encounter NTM.

Given the rarity of encountering NTM, it does not surprise me that many doctors have a hard time recognizing it. My first pulmonologist has been practicing for over 30 years, mine was only the 27th case he had ever seen and my ID doc had encountered fewer than 50 cases- both work in a huge multi-disciplinary urban clinic, with a typical patient load of around 1000 patients. They have little time to study the most up-to-date protocols for treating MAC or other rare diseases or infections. I spent many hours studying treatment options Connect, in scientific papers and from National Jewish Health, then discussing with my docs. For example, none had heard of 7% saline nebs before I brought it up.

This is why you often find members on Connect suggesting that people seek care at Mayo, NJH, and other centers that specialize in treating NTM.

Finally, when it comes to both identifying NTM and to finding research dollars, let's try a little math -
About 33 million have diabetes in the US (10,000 per 100,000 of the population), resulting in over 100,000 deaths per year and untold billions in health care costs.
About 1.9 million (550 per 100,000) people per year are diagnosed with cancer and over 600,000 die in the US.
About 86,000 - 100,000 people in the US have NTM (25-30 per 100,000)
Unfortunately, with these numbers, it stands to reason that we stand "at the back of the line" with other rare diseases when seeking funds. Do I like it? No, but I don't know what we can do about it.

I don't plan to say more on this subject, as I prefer to spend my limited time trying to point people towards resources for dealing with NTM and other health issues.

Sue