Antibiotics may be the cure to chronic asthma and pneumonia bacteria is the key. Dr. David L Hahn is a family physician in Madison, Wisconsin that has been investigating the link between Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria and asthma since the 1980's. Let me just pause here a moment and explain that this is not the same Chlamydia bacteria that causes STD's. The Chlamydia bacteria we are discussing here is described by the Center for Disease Control as the cause of the following,
Pneumonia or bronchitis, gradual onset of cough with little or no fever. Less common presentations are pharyngitis, laryngitis, and sinusitis. The spectrum of illness can range from asymptomatic infection to severe disease. Person-to-person transmission by respiratory secretions.
During his research, he teamed up with Dr. Paul Salva, who focuses on severe lung disease. Tissue samples from Dr. Salva's patients showed Chlamydia pneumoniae in over 50% of samples. Additionally, they found a relationship between the bacteria presence and the severity of asthma. The more severe the asthma, the more Chlamydia was present in the lungs. Even more interesting, they found that a non-asthmatic could develop asthma symptoms when infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Since bacteria seemed to be driving asthmatic symptoms, Dr. Hahn and collegues began to test and treat asthma with antibiotics. Azithromicin, common brand name Zythromax, is one of the world's best selling antibiotics, and was the antibiotic chosen for these tests. Treatment is to give Azithromicin for three months continuously. This is to rid the patients lungs of significant pockets of Chlamydia. After 3 months, the patient stops the medication and their response is assessed. If they relapse shortly after stopping the medication, they are advised to continue the medication for three more months. During the course of treatment, patients are to remain on their current asthma maintance medications. The continuation of asthma maintance medications after the course of treatment is completed should be evaluated with their physician.
So what about creating a strain of bacteria resistant to antibiotics? Dr. Hahn explained that Azithromicin operates intercellular and doesn't come in contact with other bacteria. He further explained that it is when bacteria comes in contact with other bacteria that resistance is created. Eventhough resistance is not impossible, it is greatly lessened with the use of an intercellular antibiotic like Azithromicin.
Antibiotic treatment is not for periodic asthma attacks. It is only for long term treatment of chronic asthma. Patients with severe asthma have the best chance for a signficant response to antibiotic treatment. Mild asthmatics have been found to have a 50/50 likelihood of response.
What is so interesting to me about this study is that Dr. Hahn started with the study of Chlamydia not asthma. Through his studies of the bacteria, he found a link to asthma. His continued study of the bacteria became a study of asthma. Now, he is looking for the NIH to devote money to studies with true samples of asthma patients for more accurate results. He wants to be able to follow Emergency Room patients treated for asthma symptoms to complete effectiveness trials, which Dr. Hahn states have never been completed on asthma in the United States.
If you have chronic uncontrolled asthma, talk to your doctor about Dr. Hahn's research. This may be the break you have been looking for.
This fall, look for Dr. Hahn's book "A Cure for Asthma? What your doctor isn't telling you - and why"
Thanks goes out to Dr. Hahn for his time in answering this examiner's questions.
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