Indigenous woman constantly feels tired: Mackay Memorial Hospital's mobile clinic uncovers autoimmune disease
Mackay Memorial Hospital's mobile clinic discovered that Ms. Rawa, an indigenous woman living in Smangus who had been suffering from fatigue for years, had Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), an autoimmune disease. This also led to the early detection of the same disease in her sister, and both began treatment.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 13:31
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 14:01 (30 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 03:18 (13h 16m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Zeng Yining, Taipei, 27th) Lava, an indigenous woman living in the remote Smangus tribe, had no habit of drinking alcohol but had been constantly feeling tired for many years. She originally thought it was due to stress and labor. Recently, a mobile clinic examination by the Mackay Memorial Hospital team revealed that she suffered from the autoimmune disease "Primary Biliary Cholangitis."
Lava, 57, began feeling persistently tired about 7 years ago. She had no history of Hepatitis B or C, had a light diet, and no drinking habits, always attributing it to life stress and work. However, she also experienced elevated bilirubin levels, abnormal liver function, and excessive cholesterol.
Dr. Chen Xi-xuan, a senior attending physician in the Gastroenterology Department of Mackay Memorial Hospital, accompanied a team to Smangus in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, for a mobile clinic on the 24th. During an abdominal ultrasound examination, it was discovered that Lava's liver showed changes in texture after chronic inflammation, and she was diagnosed with the special autoimmune disease "Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)."
Dr. Chen Xi-xuan stated that PBC patients often have inconspicuous symptoms, only occasionally feeling "a bit tired" or sometimes experiencing skin itching. The symptoms are not severe enough, leading to less early detection. Fortunately, through the hepatitis prevention and control program, the disease could be detected early and treated regularly, preventing its progression to liver cirrhosis.
Since PBC has a higher incidence in women than men, the medical team specifically screened Lava's female family members. Dr. Chen Xi-xuan stated that they eventually found her 37-year-old sister also had the same disease last year. Currently, both sisters are regularly followed up by the Xiuluan Health Station and are taking medication regularly, with good control, maintaining their original daily routines.
Hsinchu County's Jianshi Township is remote, with a vast mountainous area and an average altitude of over 1500 meters. It has long relied on the medical team from Mackay Memorial Hospital for support and assistance.
Mackay Memorial Hospital recently, led by Chairman Li Chi-long and Superintendent Zhang Wen-han, brought a medical team of 43 people, including pediatrics, ophthalmology, Chinese medicine, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and dentistry, to Smangus after about a 3.5-hour drive. They continued their large-scale mobile clinic into the afternoon and evening, seeing and examining a total of 183 people and completing first-aid seed training courses for 15 participants.
Mackay Memorial Hospital stated that since 2001, the hospital has undertaken the National Health Insurance Administration's plan to improve the effectiveness of medical payments in mountainous and island regions. It has long-term stationed one physician and three nurses at the Xiuluan Health Station, serving areas including Tianpu, Xiuluan, Jinlu, Yanglao, Taigang, Xinguang, Zhenxibao, Smangus, Yufeng, Shilei, Maliguang, and Tailiao tribes, ensuring more people receive basic and necessary medical care. (Edited by Chen Qingfang) 1150427
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(Central News Agency reporter Zeng Yining, Taipei, 27th) Lava, an indigenous woman living in the remote Smangus tribe, had no habit of drinking alcohol but had been constantly feeling tired for many years. She originally thought it was due to stress and labor. Recently, a mobile clinic examination by the Mackay Memorial Hospital team revealed that she suffered from the autoimmune disease "Primary Biliary Cholangitis."
Lava, 57, began feeling persistently tired about 7 years ago. She had no history of Hepatitis B or C, had a light diet, and no drinking habits, always attributing it to life stress and work. However, she also experienced elevated bilirubin levels, abnormal liver function, and excessive cholesterol.
Dr. Chen Xi-xuan, a senior attending physician in the Gastroenterology Department of Mackay Memorial Hospital, accompanied a team to Smangus in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, for a mobile clinic on the 24th. During an abdominal ultrasound examination, it was discovered that Lava's liver showed changes in texture after chronic inflammation, and she was diagnosed with the special autoimmune disease "Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)."
Dr. Chen Xi-xuan stated that PBC patients often have inconspicuous symptoms, only occasionally feeling "a bit tired" or sometimes experiencing skin itching. The symptoms are not severe enough, leading to less early detection. Fortunately, through the hepatitis prevention and control program, the disease could be detected early and treated regularly, preventing its progression to liver cirrhosis.
Since PBC has a higher incidence in women than men, the medical team specifically screened Lava's female family members. Dr. Chen Xi-xuan stated that they eventually found her 37-year-old sister also had the same disease last year. Currently, both sisters are regularly followed up by the Xiuluan Health Station and are taking medication regularly, with good control, maintaining their original daily routines.
Hsinchu County's Jianshi Township is remote, with a vast mountainous area and an average altitude of over 1500 meters. It has long relied on the medical team from Mackay Memorial Hospital for support and assistance.
Mackay Memorial Hospital recently, led by Chairman Li Chi-long and Superintendent Zhang Wen-han, brought a medical team of 43 people, including pediatrics, ophthalmology, Chinese medicine, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and dentistry, to Smangus after about a 3.5-hour drive. They continued their large-scale mobile clinic into the afternoon and evening, seeing and examining a total of 183 people and completing first-aid seed training courses for 15 participants.
Mackay Memorial Hospital stated that since 2001, the hospital has undertaken the National Health Insurance Administration's plan to improve the effectiveness of medical payments in mountainous and island regions. It has long-term stationed one physician and three nurses at the Xiuluan Health Station, serving areas including Tianpu, Xiuluan, Jinlu, Yanglao, Taigang, Xinguang, Zhenxibao, Smangus, Yufeng, Shilei, Maliguang, and Tailiao tribes, ensuring more people receive basic and necessary medical care. (Edited by Chen Qingfang) 1150427
Choose to stand with the facts. Every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
Keywords: