Do I Have Valley Fever?

Do you live in or have you recently traveled to an area where Valley fever is common (the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America and south-central Washington)?

Do you have fatigue (tiredness)?

Do you cough?

Do you have a fever?

Do you have shortness of breath or chest pain?

Do you have a headache?

Have you lost your appetite?

Do you have night sweats (profuse sweating at night)?

Do you have muscle aches or joint pain (particularly of the ankles and knees)?

Do you have a rash on upper body or legs (tender red bumps on the shins or forearms)?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have Valley fever. Valley fever is a medical condition that refers to a fungal infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. In most cases of valley fever, a fungal infection affects the lungs. However, occasionally the infection can spread to other parts of the body and it is called "disseminated coccidioidomycosis". The fungus Coccidioides lives in the soil. It is transmitted by inhalation of microscopic fungal spores from the air. These fungi can be found in soil in specific regions such as the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have Valley fever. Valley fever is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. The medical term for Valley fever is “coccidioidomycosis.” These fungi live in the soil and can be stirred into the air in various ways, for example during agricultural or construction work, or carried by the wind. You can become infected by inhaling fungal spores from the air. The spores then enter your lungs where they multiply and cause an infection. People with valley fever often have no symptoms or have mild flu-like symptoms that go away without treatment within a few weeks.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have Valley fever. Valley fever is a condition that describes a fungal infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. There are three forms of coccidioidomycosis infection: acute (valley fever) which is often mild, with few or no symptoms that often disappear within a few weeks; a chronic form which is characterized by chronic pneumonia, and a disseminated form, which is rare and represents the spread of fungal infection to other parts of the body such as the brain, skin, bones and the heart. Treatment includes rest and antifungal medications for people with more severe symptoms.