A new immune-deficiency disease similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been detected in Asians, especially in Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Thailand, Dr Ploenjan Chetchotisak of Khon Kaen University’s faculty of medicine said yesterday.

Ploenjan said she had treated a patient diagnosed as having scrofula, who received treatment for many years but was not cured completely. Research by Srinagarind Hospital in Khon Kaen found that the patient fell into the category of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).

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