What is Valley Feaver in the San Jouquin Valley?

Question

Respitory problems.

Answer 1

San Joaquin valley fever is the common name for coccidiomycosis infection in the lung. Medically, it is coccidiomycosis or coccidioidomycosis (both are correct). In a person with a normal immune system, it is usually a self limiting, though painful respiratory infection. In the immunocompromised it can disseminate and cause very serious illness or even death. The antifungal medications are pretty harsh so should be reserved for those who they think has disseminated or that dissemination is imminent.

It is caused by Coccidioides immitus, which in nature is in delicate hyphae that can break and become airborne (and you inhale them) and in the human body as spherules, containing endospores. The xray can look suspicious, and they can do lung biopsy or skin testing.

Interestingly, you can have a skin rash and some arthritic symptoms, and that does not mean dissemination (spread through the body), as it would in most other fungal diseases.