Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is a disease caused by inhalation of the fungus Coccidioides. This fungus lives in the soil of the Southwestern desert, Mexico and some parts of Central and South America (see map). When the fungus is inhaled it can cause pneumonia, and, more rarely, cause disease outside the lungs. It causes disease both in immunocompetent and immunocompromised people. The number of cases of cocci is increasing (see image above) probably because of warming, prolonged drought and movement of residential housing into the desert areas. People who live in cites such as Los Angles, San Diego or Phoenix can acquire cocci without travel to the desert, however, because the fungus can exist in urban soil.
Most often cocci presents as pneumonia and resolves without the need for treatment. In some cases, symptoms can linger for months and be devastating. In these cases anti-fungal therapy is appropriate. In less than 5% of cases, dissemination beyond the lungs occurs. This dissemination usually occurs in the skin, bones and joints or coverings of the brain (meninges). People who are immunocompromised for whatever reason are much more likely to develop disseminated infection. A useful reference is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8903229.
Effective anti-fungal drugs for cocci do exist but not every patient responds to treatment or tolerates the drugs well. Infection of the bones frequently requires surgery as well as drug treatment. Meningitis requires life-long drug treatment.
Other useful web sites about coccidioidomycosis include
https://www.vfce.arizona.edu/
http://www.cdc.gov/features/valleyfever/
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/valley-fever-topic-overview
Most often cocci presents as pneumonia and resolves without the need for treatment. In some cases, symptoms can linger for months and be devastating. In these cases anti-fungal therapy is appropriate. In less than 5% of cases, dissemination beyond the lungs occurs. This dissemination usually occurs in the skin, bones and joints or coverings of the brain (meninges). People who are immunocompromised for whatever reason are much more likely to develop disseminated infection. A useful reference is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8903229.
Effective anti-fungal drugs for cocci do exist but not every patient responds to treatment or tolerates the drugs well. Infection of the bones frequently requires surgery as well as drug treatment. Meningitis requires life-long drug treatment.
Other useful web sites about coccidioidomycosis include
https://www.vfce.arizona.edu/
http://www.cdc.gov/features/valleyfever/
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/valley-fever-topic-overview