Living Well With NTM Living Well With NTM | Page 5

How Does NTM Affect
Your Body?
NTM can enter the lungs from the
environment. In most people, NTM
are cleared from the lungs naturally
and do not cause infection.
Causes of NTM Lung
Infection
In some people, NTM infects the
airways and lung tissue. This causes
an infection. Without treatment, many
people will develop a progressive lung
infection. Cough, shortness of breath,
fatigue, and often weight loss are
symptoms.
sick. The people who do get sick
from NTM usually have another lung
disease or a weak immune system.
NTM lung infections are caused by
mycobacteria that are found in soil
and water. Doctors do not know why
only some people develop NTM lung
disease. Most people do not become
Common Symptoms
People with NTM generally have
some or all of these symptoms:
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cough
fatigue
night sweats
fever
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weight loss and loss of appetite
shortness of breath
coughing up blood
excessive mucus production
wheezing
chest pain
recurring respiratory infections
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