ﺑﺎﺯﮔﺸﺖ ﺑﻪ ﺻﻔﺤﻪ ﻗﺒﻠﯽ
خرید پکیج
تعداد آیتم قابل مشاهده باقیمانده : -6 مورد

Patient education: Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) (The Basics)

Patient education: Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) (The Basics)

What is Valley Fever? — 

This is an infection that can cause cough, fever, tiredness, and other symptoms. The infection is caused by a fungus that lives in soil and can travel in dust specks that a person can breathe in. Valley Fever is also called "coccidioidomycosis."

Most people who get Valley Fever get better without treatment. Many people never even realize that they have it.

The fungus that causes Valley Fever is found in:

Arizona

Southwestern New Mexico

Nevada

West Texas

Southern and central valleys of California

Utah

Eastern Washington State

Parts of Mexico and Central and South America

Most people who visit or live in areas where the Valley Fever fungus is found never get infected. Those who do can usually fight off the infection on their own. But some people get very sick. This is most likely to happen in people with HIV, those with certain types of cancer, and those who take medicines that suppress the body's infection-fighting system (called the "immune system").

What are the symptoms of Valley Fever? — 

The symptoms can include:

Fever

Cough

Chest pain when taking a deep breath

Being tired

Aching joints

Rash

The symptoms can be mild and can last for weeks or months.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — 

If you have the symptoms listed above and live in or visited an area where Valley Fever occurs, see a doctor or nurse. They will do an exam, learn about your symptoms, and ask where you live and where you visited.

If the doctor or nurse suspects that you have Valley Fever, they might do tests to look for signs of the fungus that causes it. These can include blood tests and tests on a sample of mucus that you cough up.

How is Valley Fever treated? — 

Valley Fever does not always need to be treated. If you are fairly healthy, your doctor or nurse might want to wait and see if you can fight off the infection on your own. They will want to see you frequently at first to make sure that you are getting better.

Medicines called "anti-fungals" can kill the fungus that causes Valley Fever. But these medicines can cause side effects, and people must take them for months or even years. For these reasons, doctors try to use them only in people who can't fight off the infection on their own. People who might need anti-fungals include those:

With severe disease

With HIV infection

Who had an organ transplant

Who have cancers of the blood

Who take medicines called "steroids" or other medicines that partly "turn off" the immune system

Who are pregnant

How can I prevent getting Valley Fever? — 

If you live in an area where Valley Fever occurs, there are some things you can do to lower your chances of getting infected. These include staying inside during dust storms and avoiding activities that could expose you to dust or desert soil.

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: May 11, 2025.
Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2025© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
Topic 87358 Version 11.0