Coccidioidomycosis

Also called San Joaquin fever and valley fever, coccidioidomycosis is caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis. This fungus is found in the soil of semiarid areas. If the soil is disturbed, the fungus will release spores into the air. High winds, storms and digging into the soil all can allow the fungus spores to become airborne. Once in the air, these fungus spores can be inhaled by people or animals and infect the lungs. Coccidioidomycosis is fairly common in South and Central America, Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Ten to 50 percent of people in these areas have been infected.

About 60 percent of people who inhale the spores and become infected do not develop symptoms and recover completely. About 40 percent of those infected will develop symptoms that can range from a mild flu-like illness (fever, cough, headache, rash and muscle pains) to pneumonia. About 90 percent of people infected will recover without treatment. Rarely, some of those infected will not recover and, weeks or years from the original infection, will develop a chronic lung infection, or the infection will spread from the lungs to other organs of the body, usually to skin, bones, joints and the lining of the brain (meninges). People receiving glucocorticoid or chemotherapy therapy for cancer or other diseases and conditions (including renal and other organ transplant recipients), and people with diabetes or AIDS are at higher risk for this form of infection. African Americans, Filipinos and American Indians are at higher risk. Pregnant women in their third trimester may be at higher risk, as are people in professions that expose them to dust, such agricultural or construction workers. 

What to Do

The best way to avoid valley fever is to avoid geographic areas where valley fever is common. Millions of people live in those areas, however, without significant problem. Call your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms, you are in one of the high-risk groups and you have traveled to South or Central America, Arizona, California, New Mexico or Texas in recent weeks.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have a stiff neck. This can be a sign of meningitis: If left untreated, meningitis can be fatal.

Symptoms

Symptoms of coccidioidomycosis can be similar to those of the flu: fever, cough, headache, rash and muscle aches. A sign of a serious condition is a stiff neck. Contact your doctor immediately if you have a stiff neck. This can be a sign of meningitis: If left untreated, meningitis can be fatal.

Other symptoms include:

• Skin rash

• Swollen joints

• Loss of energy

• Decreased appetite

• Extreme tiredness

• Night sweats

• Chills

• Runny nose

• Weight loss