Where is Valley fever most common?
Valley Fever (also known as Desert Rheumatism or San Joaquin Valley Fever) is Arizona’s disease. While rare at a national level, Valley Fever is common in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Every year, 150,000 people in the U.S. are infected, and Arizona is home to two-thirds of them.
How long does Valley fever last?
The symptoms of Valley fever usually last for a few weeks to a few months. However, some patients have symptoms that last longer than this, especially if the infection becomes severe. Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs.
What organs does valley fever affect?
It happens when the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. It can affect many organs, and particularly the skin, liver, brain, bones, meninges, and heart. Signs and symptoms vary depending on which parts of the body are affected.
How does someone get Valley fever?
People can get Valley fever by breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air, although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick. Usually, people who get sick with Valley fever will get better on their own within weeks to months, but some people will need antifungal medication.
Does Valley fever make you immunocompromised?
“On the other hand, for those who have had Valley fever in the past, there is no reason to believe they are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19, as Valley fever does not interfere with or weaken a person’s immune system”, said Dr. Galgiani.
Where can you get Valley fever in the United States?
You can get the infection if you breathe in the fungus germs. The germs are found in soil and dust in parts of the United States, Mexico, Central and South America. In the United States, most cases of valley fever occur in California, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Are there any common symptoms of Valley fever?
The symptoms of Valley fever can be similar to those of other common illnesses, which may cause delays in getting patients correctly diagnosed and treated.
Where does the fungus that causes Valley Fever Live?
The fungus that causes Valley fever lives in the soil in the southwestern United States, south-central Washington State, and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. These maps show: cases of Valley fever detected by public health surveillance. Scientists are still learning more about where the fungus that causes Valley fever can be found.
When to go to the hospital for Valley fever?
People who have severe lung infections or infections that have spread to other parts of the body always need antifungal treatment and may need to stay in the hospital. This map shows CDC’s current estimate of where the fungus that causes coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) live in the environment in the United States.
What is Valley fever and what can you do about Valley fever?
Valley fever usually involves supportive care and sometimes medications. Rest. Most people with acute valley fever don’t require treatment. Even when symptoms are severe, the best therapy for otherwise healthy adults is often bed rest and fluid intake. Still, doctors carefully monitor people with valley fever. Antifungal medications
Does Valley fever ever go away?
For many people, the symptoms of Valley fever will go away within a few months without any treatment. Healthcare providers choose to prescribe antifungal medication for some people to try to reduce the severity of symptoms or prevent the infection from getting worse.
What are the stages of Valley fever?
Valley fever symptoms have up to three distinct stages, depending on the individual’s vulnerability to the disease. These are broken up into acute, chronic and disseminated stages, which could also be described as initial infection, continued infection, and infection spread beyond the lungs.
What you should know about Valley fever?
Also known as coccidioidomycosis, valley fever is a lung infection caused by a fungus that lives in the soil. When soil is disturbed and these fungal spores are released into the air, people who breathe in the microscopic particles can get sick.