10 Symptoms of Valley Fever

By james

Reviewed: Dr. Mera

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. https://www.cdc.gov/features/valleyfever/index.html

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Valley fever is caused by an infection from a fungus known as Coccidiodes Immitis and Coccidiodes posadasii. ¹https://www.cdc.gov/features/valleyfever/index.html. The official medical term for the disease is coccidioidomycosis, and it is something to be taken very seriously. Most cases are found in Arizona and California, although it can also be found in other parts of Southern and Central America.

This disease is typically transmitted by inhaling airborne spores and it follows a seasonal pattern with the summer and late fall being the most problematic seasons. Coccidioidomycosis affects the lungs primarily, but up to 60% of the patients show no symptoms of the disease at all. For most patients, the disease is self-limited, requiring no medical treatment at all. For the few cases (less than 1%) where the disease spreads beyond the lungs, treatment is mandatory and complications may arise.

Symptom #1: Fever

Having a fever is among the most common symptoms we will experience when we are ill. It is the result of the body increasing its temperature in order to make it an inhospitable place for pathogens to stay. It is also a common symptom among people that have valley fever.

For as long as the fungus remains in the body, the body’s natural defense system will continue to try and fight it. This means the fever will remain for as long as the patient still has the disease. It might be uncomfortable, but it can help to save your life. This is the most common symptom associated with Coccidioidomycosis, with a reported incidence of over 70% in symptomatic patients.