Coccidioidomycosis (Coccidioides): Valley Fever - Summary Sheet
• Morphology
• Geography, Reservoir and Mode of Transmission
- Endemic in southwest of the US and certain arid regions in South America
- In the US, highest incidence in Arizona and California
- Reservoir includes: soil (increased during dry periods after rain/storms/earthquakes or excavation work)
- Mode of transmission: aerogenic
- Race predilection: Filipino and African Americans at higher risk for disseminated disease
• Clinical presentation
- Two-thirds of individuals remain asymptomatic or develop self-limiting respiratory symptoms. When symptomatic→ pulmonary involvement in >95% of cases
- The disease can spread hematogenously to the following extrapulmonary sites: skin, soft tissue, skeleton, CNS (both meninges and spinal cord), eyes, heart, liver, kidneys, and prostate
• Diagnosis
• Management
- Mild pulmonary disease: no treatment
- Asymptomatic nodule/cavity: no treatment
- Symptomatic chronic cavity: fluconazole/itraconazole (at least) x 12 months
by Fatima Al Dhaheri, MD @FatimaAlDee
#Coccidioidomycosis #Coccidioides #ValleyFever #diagnosis #management #summary #fungal
