Valley Fever: Danger Lurking in a Dust Cloud
- David Ojcius
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii contribute to the development of Valley Fever. The ability of these fungal pathogens to evade the host immune system creates difficulty in recognition and treatment of this debilitating infection. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of Valley Fever and approaches to improve prevention, detection, and treatment.
Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by inhaling spores of the fungal species Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii. The disease has commonly been termed “Valley Fever,” “San Joaquin Valley Fever,” “San Joaquin Fever,” “desert fever,” and “desert rheumatism” [1]. A high incidence of coccidioidomycosis has been reported in the southwestern United States, Central America, and South America [2, 3]. The rise in cases has contributed to hospitalization costs totaling over $2 billion for those afflicted with the illness, which include individuals with symptoms ranging from mild local infections to disseminated disease [4]. Although inhalation of Coccidioides is the most common mode of transmission, there are rare cases of transmission through transplanted organs or inoculation by penetration of the skin by a sharp object containing the fungus [3, 5]. While most infected individuals are asymptomatic, about 40% of individuals show flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, headache, skin rash, muscle aches, joint pain, and fatigue [1, 3, 6, 7]. In most cases the immune system resolves the infection without the need for medical intervention. However, without proper diagnosis, disseminated disease may occur, leading to increased severity of symptoms. Laboratory diagnostic testing and clinical evaluation are the most effective measures for determining coccidioidomycosis. Early detection and antifungal drug treatments aid in slowing or inhibiting the development of disease and limit tissue damage, and may prevent morbidity [2]. In this review, we aim to provide a better understanding of coccidioidomycosis and to promote awareness of these pathogenic fungi.
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