What is coccidioidomycosis?

Coccidioidomycosis, also referred to as Valley fever, is a condition in which the person is infected with spores of fungus. The fungus is scientifically known as coccidioides immitis and usually occurs in the soil in warm areas in the north, central and South America. Infections are generally not fatal, but can cause complications in people whose immune systems may not be healthy enough to clean infection, especially in elderly, children or people suffering from human immunodeficiency virus or immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Most cases of coccidioidomycosis infections usually do not have many symptoms. If a person with infection has a properly functioning immune system, his body will generally be able to successfully fight infection before showing symptoms. In rare cases that fungal infection causes symptoms, may include chest pain, fever, breathing problems, cough or itching rashes.

coccidioidomycosis is caused by people inhaling spores from mushrooms coccidioides immitis. The sponge comes from the soil, but can be extended into the air by the wind. People who are most likely to come into contact with spores of sponges are generally people who work outside near infected land, such as construction workers or farmers. If a person breathes in the air containing spores of fungus, infection can occur in the lungs.

There is no accurate treatment or coccidioidomycosis treatment. People with a healthy immune system may never notice the infection, so treatment is usually not necessary. In people who experience symptoms, the only course of treatment is to rest, so the immune system can try to clean the infection. If someone with HIV or AIDS has coccidioidomycosis, the doctor will have to monitor them carefully to ensure that the infection does not become large and fatal.

In rare cases, the immune system may not be able to clean the infection and may expand from the lungs to other areasí bodies. Other most commonly affected areas include bones, skin, heart and brain. The infection can then result in solid, inflamed joints and wounds on the skull surface and other bones. It can also cause abnormal growth under the skin. In the most serious cases, infections may lead to meningitis, infection in protective tissues in the brain and spine, which may lead to death under rare circumstances.