Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
Overview-
Coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides immitis spores. Mild cases of this condition are not common and treatment is not generally necessary. However, this disease is often misdiagnosed, due to the fact that you experience only mild or moderate symptoms, and these symptoms often takes 20 years to present. The most severe cases of Coccidioidomycosis causing the infection to spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream, and people with compromised immune systems are at greatest risk.
-causa
The fungi that cause valley fever - Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides Posadas - thrive in arid soils of the south of the desert of Arizona, Nevada, northern …show more content…
In the soil, they grow as a mold with long filaments that break off into airborne spores when the soil is disturbed. The spores are extremely small, it can be transported hundreds of miles by the wind and are highly contagious. Once inside the lungs, the spores reproduce, perpetuating the cycle of the disease.
Sintomi-
Valley fever is the first form of coccidioidomycosis infection. This initial acute illness may become more severe disease, including chronic and disseminated coccidioidomycosis.
Acute coccidioidomycosis (valley fever)
The initial form, or acute coccidioidomycosis is often mild, with few, if you experience any signs and symptoms, which appear 1-3 weeks after exposure. They tend to resemble those of the flu, and can range from mild to severe:
• Temperature
• Cough
• Chest pain - ranging from a mild feeling of constriction to intense pressure resembling a heart …show more content…
Even when the symptoms are severe, the best therapy for otherwise healthy adults is often bed rest and fluids - the same approach used for colds and infections doctors carefully monitor people with valley fever. drugs- antifungals
If symptoms do not improve or get worse or if they are at increased risk of complications, the doctor may prescribe an antifungal medication such as fluconazole. Antifungal drugs are also used for people with chronic or disseminated disease.
In general, antifungal drugs fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox, Onmel) are used for all but the most severe forms of the disease coccidioidomycosis.
All fungal infections can have serious side effects. However, these side effects usually go away once the medication is stopped. The most common side effects of fluconazole and itraconazole are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
More severe infection can be treated initially with an antifungal medication intravenously, as amphotericin B (Abelcet, Amphotec, other).
These drugs control the fungus, but sometimes you do not destroy, and relapses may occur. For most people, a single valley fever attack results in lifelong immunity, but the disease can be reactivated, or you can be reinfected if the immune system is weakened