Valley fever is a disease caused by a fungus, or mould, called Coccidioides, which lives in the soil of dry areas such as the southwestern United States. People catch it by breathing in the fungus's spores. It does not spread from person to person.
Who is at risk
Anyone can get valley fever, but it is most common in older adults, especially those 60 and over. People who have recently moved to an area where it occurs are at the highest risk. Others at higher risk include:
- workers exposed to soil dust, such as construction and farm workers, and military forces training in the field;
- African Americans and Asians;
- women in the third trimester of pregnancy;
- people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms
Valley fever is often mild, with no symptoms. When there are symptoms, they may be a flu-like illness with fever, cough, headache, rash and muscle aches. Most people get better within several weeks or months, but a small number develop a chronic lung infection or an infection that spreads through the body.
Diagnosis and treatment
It is diagnosed by testing blood, other body fluids or tissue. Many people with an acute infection recover without treatment, though doctors sometimes prescribe antifungal drugs. Severe infections need antifungal drugs.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Valley Fever," drawing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://medlineplus.gov/valleyfever.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
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