Coccidiodomycosis (Valley Fever) - Medtick
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Coccidiodomycosis (Valley Fever)

What is it?

These organisms live in the soil of semiarid areas and one inhale the fungal spores that become airborne after disturbance of contaminated soil by humans or natural disasters (i.e. dust storms and earthquakes).

It is endemic in world areas of:

  • Southwestern United States
  • Parts of Mexico
  • South America

Diagnosis Test

  • EIA antibody test
  • ID and complement fixation (CF) tests (EIAs have a quicker turnaround time than ID and CF antibody testing)
  • Coccidioides PCR test
  • EIA Coccidioides serum antigen test (primarily been studied in immunocompromised patients with moderately severe or disseminated disease or in meningitis. It can be considered as an adjunctive test when there is a high suspicion for coccidioidomycosis in immunocompromised patients who cannot mount an antibody response)

If results are negative consider:

If a high degree of suspicion remains after negative testing, progression of illness occurs, or if symptom onset was recent, a clinician may consider:

  • Repeating serology 2 to 6 weeks after the initial EIA test (note that antibody testing may be negative early in the illness course)
  • Obtaining a sputum or BAL culture and microscopy, although these have low sensitivity
  • Obtaining infectious disease or pulmonology consultation

Medscape

Cause

  • Fungus: Coccidioides species.
  • Inhaling fungal spores that become airborne after disturbance of contaminated soil.

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72hours?
  • Initially a persistent dry cough which has now become a chesty cough with yellow/green and/or blood stained phlegm?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait phone, for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

  • Mycotic Endophthalmitis
    • Blurred vision/decreased vision
    • Oedema (watery swelling) of the eyelid
    • Eye pain
    • Appearance of the eye may be hazy
    • Infection to the eye (sticky or watery discharge)

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Coccidiodomycosis (Valley Fever) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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