How do humans get coccidioidomycosis?
The most common way for someone to get Valley fever is by inhaling Coccidioides spores that are in the air. In extremely rare cases, people can get the infection from other sources, such as: From an organ transplant if the organ donor had Valley fever. From inhaling spores from a wound infected with Coccidioides.
Is coccidioidomycosis the same as Valley fever?
Valley fever, also called coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. The fungus is known to live in the soil in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America.
What does Coccidioides look like?
The pathology of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is neutrophilic, suppurative, and granulomatous. The organisms appear as large spherules containing endospores, visible on silver stains.
Where is coccidioidomycosis most common?
The most common states for people to be infected with coccidioidomycosis are Arizona and California, followed by Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah (see map). What are the different forms of Coccidioidomycosis? Each year, about 100,000 people are infected with the Coccidioides spores.
Why is coccidioidomycosis called Valley fever?
Valley fever is caused by a person inhaling spores of certain fungi. The fungi that cause valley fever — Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii — live in the soil in parts of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, California, Texas and Washington. It’s named after the San Joaquin Valley in California.
How does coccidioidomycosis affect the body?
Because the fungus is inhaled, the disease typically affects the lung. In a small number of people, it may spread outside of the lung and affect other parts of the body. This serious complication is called “disseminated coccidioidomycosis.” Another serious complication that could occur is pneumonia.
What happens if Valley fever goes untreated?
For many, the symptoms will disappear on their own. But for some, untreated Valley Fever can lead to chronic fatigue, severe weight loss, pneumonia, meningitis or even death. Some strains of Coccidioides, or cocci, for short, are more dangerous than others.
Does Valley fever still exist?
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.
What are the long-term effects of Valley fever?
Common symptoms include fatigue, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, night sweats, muscle aches, joint pain, and rash. Those who experience severe and long-lasting symptoms may also experience long-term lung problems. In the most severe cases, coccidioidomycosis can be fatal.
Is Coccidioides contagious?
Coccidioidomycosis is not contagious, meaning it cannot be passed from person to person.
Can you catch Valley fever?
Valley fever isn’t contagious, so you can’t catch it from someone else. Fungus that grows in the ground causes it. When something stirs up the soil, spores from the fungus fly into the air, where people breathe them in. Most people don’t get sick.
What is Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis)?
Definition of Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) The fungus is known to live in the soil in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. The fungus was also recently found in south-central Washington. People can get Valley fever by breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air in these areas. Most…
What is coccidioidomycosis?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. Coccidioidomycosis (/kɒkˌsɪdiɔɪdoʊmaɪˈkoʊsɪs/, kok-sid-ee-oy-doh-my-KOH-sis), commonly known as cocci, Valley fever, as well as California fever, desert rheumatism, and San Joaquin Valley fever, is a mammalian fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii.
What is cocci disease in humans?
Coccidioidomycosis (/kɒkˌsɪdiɔɪdoʊmaɪˈkoʊsɪs/, kok-sid-ee-oy-doh-my-KOH-sis), commonly known as cocci, Valley fever, as well as California fever, desert rheumatism, and San Joaquin Valley fever, is a mammalian fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii.
What is the scientific name of Valley fever?
Definition of Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) Valley fever is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. The scientific name for Valley fever is “coccidioidomycosis,” and it’s also sometimes called “San Joaquin Valley fever” or “desert rheumatism.” The term “Valley fever” usually refers to Coccidioides infection in the lungs,…