fungal infection most commonly seen in the desert regions of the southwestern United States, and in Central and

South America. You get it by breathing in fungal particles from soil. The infection starts in the lungs. Valley fever may also be called coccidioidomycosis. Traveling to an area where the fungus is commonly seen raises your risk for this infection. You are also more likely to develop a serious infection if you have a weakened immune system due to:

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy Cancer Chemotherapy Diabetes Glucocorticoid medications (prednisone) Heart-lung conditions HIV Organ transplant Pregnancy (especially the first trimester)

People of Native American, African, or Philippine descent may also get more severe cases. Back to TopSymptoms Most people with valley fever never have symptoms. Others may have cold- or flu-like symptoms or symptoms of pneumonia. If symptoms occur, they typically start 5 to 21 days after exposure to the fungus. Common symptoms include:

Ankle, feet, and leg swelling Chest pain (can vary from mild to severe) Cough, possibly producing blood-tinged phlegm (sputum) Fever and night sweats Headache Joint stiffness and pain or muscle aches Loss of appetite Painful, red lumps on lower legs (erythema nodosum)

Rarely, the infection spreads from the lungs through the bloodstream to involve the skin, bones, joints, lymph nodes, and central nervous system or other organs. This is called disseminated coccidioidomycosis. People with this more widespread form may become very sick. Symptoms may also include:

Change in mental status Enlarged or draining lymph nodes Joint swelling More severe lung symptoms Neck stiffness Sensitivity to light Weight loss

For information on skin rashes with this infection, see: Skin lesion of coccidioidomycosis. Back to TopExams and Tests Tests done for milder forms of this disease include:

Blood test to check for coccidioides infection (the fungus that causes Valley fever) Chest x-ray Sputum culture Sputum smear (KOH test)

Tests done for more severe or widespread forms of the infection include:

Biopsy of the lymph node, lung, or liver Bone marrow biopsy Bronchoscopy with lavage Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to rule out meningitis

Back to TopTreatment The disease almost always goes away without treatment. Your health care provider may recommend bedrest and treatment for flu-like symptoms until your fever disappears. If you have a weakened immune system, you may need antifungal treatment with amphotericin B, fluconazole, or itraconazole. The best length of treatment with these medications has not been determined. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the infected part of the lung (for chronic or severe disease).

Back to TopOutlook (Prognosis)