overview
- Valley fever is a fungal infection caused by coccidioid organisms (kok-sid-e-OY-deze). It can cause signs and symptoms such as fever, cough, and fatigue.
- Two types of coccidioid fungus cause valley fever. These mushrooms are usually found in the soil of certain regions. Fungal spores can be stirred into the air by anything that disturbs the soil, such as agriculture, construction, and wind.
- People can then inhale the mushrooms in 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 go away on their own. In more severe cases, doctors treat the infection with antifungal drugs. Valley fever treatment in hyderabad
symptom
Valley fever is the original form of coccidioidomycosis infection. This initial acute illness can lead to more serious illness, including chronic and disseminated coccidioidomycosis.
The reasons
Valley fever is caused by a person who inhales the spores of certain mushrooms. The fungi that cause valley fever – Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii – live in the soil in parts of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, California, Texas, and Washington. It is named after the San Joaquin Valley in California. Mushrooms are also found in northern Mexico as well as in Central and South America.
Like many other mushrooms, species of coccidioids have a complex life cycle. In the soil they grow as mold with long filaments that disintegrate into airborne spores when the soil is disturbed. A person can then inhale the spores.
Risk factors
Risk factors for valley fever are:
- Environmental exposure. Anyone who inhales the spores that cause valley fever is at risk of infection. People who live in areas where fungi are common – especially those who spend a lot of time outdoors – are at higher risk.
- Additionally, people who have jobs that expose them to dust are most at risk – construction, road and farm workers, ranchers, archaeologists and military personnel during exercises on the site.
- Run. For reasons that are not well understood, people of Filipino and African descent are more likely to develop severe fungal infections.
Pregnancy. Pregnant women are more prone to more serious infections in the third trimester. New mothers are at risk immediately after their baby is born.
Complications
Some people, especially pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems – such as people with HIV / AIDS – and people of Filipino or African descent are at risk of developing a more severe form of coccidioidomycosis.
Complications of coccidioidomycosis can include:
Severe pneumonia. Most people recover from pneumonia caused by coccidioidomycosis without complications. Others, mostly people of Filipino and African descent and people with weakened immune systems, can become seriously ill.
Broken lung nodules. A small percentage of people develop thin-walled nodules (cavities) in their lungs. Many of them eventually go away with no problems, but some can burst and cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. Valley fever treatment in hyderabad
prevention
There is no vaccine against valley fever.
If you live in or visit areas where valley fever is common, take precautions, especially during the summer months when the risk of infection is greatest.
Keep these tips in mind:
- Wear a mask.
- Avoid very dusty areas like construction sites.
- Stay indoors during dust storms. Valley fever treatment in hyderabad