Valley fever is a fungal infection caused by coccidioides kok-sid-e-OY-deze organisms. It can cause signs and symptoms such as a fever, cough and tiredness. Two coccidioides fungi species cause valley fever. These fungi are commonly found in soil in specific regions. The fungi's spores can be stirred into the air by anything that disrupts the soil, such as farming, construction and wind. People can then breathe the fungi into their lungs. The fungi can cause valley fever, also known as acute coccidioidomycosis kok-sid-e-oy-doh-my-KOH-sis.
Mild cases of valley fever usually resolve on their own. In more-severe cases, doctors treat the infection with antifungal medications. Valley fever is the initial form of coccidioidomycosis infection. This initial, acute illness can develop into a more serious disease, including chronic and disseminated coccidioidomycosis. The initial, or acute, form of coccidioidomycosis is often mild, with few or no symptoms.
Signs and symptoms occur one to three weeks after exposure. They tend to be similar to flu symptoms. Symptoms can range from minor to severe, including:. If you don't become ill or have symptoms from valley fever, you may only find out you've been infected later. You may find out when you have a positive skin or blood test or when small areas of residual infection in the lungs nodules show up on a routine chest X-ray.
The nodules typically don't cause problems, but they can look like cancer on X-rays. If you develop symptoms, especially severe ones, the course of the disease is highly variable. It can take months to fully recover.
Fatigue and joint aches can last even longer. The disease's severity depends on several factors, including your overall health and the number of fungus spores you inhale. If the initial coccidioidomycosis infection doesn't completely resolve, it may progress to a chronic form of pneumonia.
