What is Taiwan acute respiratory agent (TWAR)?

Many doctors find it difficult to diagnose TWAR infection because it does not show any elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and normal cultures from mucosa shows no bacteria. The bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae causes TWAR and unlike our common bacteria in the airways (streptococci, pneumococci ..) is TWAR not on the surface of the mucous membranes, instead it need to “get inside” the cells in order to exist. The bacterium grows slowly and you get a late antibody response.

Common symptoms include respiratory problems, lump sensation in the throat, fatigue, runny nose, headache, neck pain, chest tightness, palpitations, muscle aches, depression and cover your ears. Symptoms can last for several years and many patients need treatment with antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria.

How to recover from TWAR?

According to Dr. Gunnar Sandberg Karlsborg who treated many patients who suffered from TWAR with almost complete success of the treatments, it is good to start treatment for active infection. If infection is passive, it is better to wait until it recurs. Gunnar has discovered that the bacterial strains vary and different antibiotic is needed. He has been using azithromycin (Zithromax) with good results given in the dose 250 mg 2 tablets the first day, then 1 tablet daily for 4 days, then 1 tablet every other day.

If you suspect you have TWAR infection then it is good to ask the doctor to do tests for IgG antibodies because it is difficult to get results from throat culture samples.

Sources:

For more information regarding testing and treatment (Gunnar Sandberg): http://www.me-info.nu/pdf/Media/Medicinska%20artiklar/TWAR.pdf
Internet Medicine: http://www.internetmedicin.se/dyn_main.asp?page=442