Coccidioidomycosis

Question: How long does it typically take to cure coccidioidomycosis?

Answer: There is no absolute time frame. Each case is different. Some respond quicker than others. the course of treatment can take weeks to months depending on the individuals health, degree of infection, ability to tolerate anti-fungal drugs, and what area of the body involved. Anti-fungal drugs tend to be harsher, with more side-affects. Fungal infections are commonly more difficult to treat and have a longer treatment regimen. Each case is entirely different. It is often possible for the patient to appear cured, but have a relapse of infection at some point after anti-fungal drugs are discontinued.

Question: Coccidioidomycosis, is it potentially fatal if left untreated?

Answer: Coccidioides immitis is a fungus found mainly in soil in the southwestern parts of the US, in Mexico, in Central America, and in parts of South America. During one part of the fungus' life cycle, it is airborn. That's when it is most dangerous. Those with Coccidioidomycosis have inhaled this infective fungus. The lungs are the most commonly affected. In severe cases, Coccidioidomycosis can also involve the kidneys, lymph system, brain, and spleen. Symptoms include cough, weight loss, and fatigue. Meningitis is a common complication when Coccidioidomycosis is left untreated. The US Centers For Disease Control considers this an AIDS-defining condition -- Coccidioidomycosis, disseminated or extrapulmonary Sequelae Meningitis may lead to permanent neurologic damage. Mortality is high in HIV-infected persons with diffuse lung disease. So, YA ! It's dangerous.

Question: Anyone ever heard of Coccidioidomycosis,(Valley Fever), and known of anyone who had a 'nodule' in their lung? According to doctors, I had a 3.5cm,(1 3/8"), nodule suspected to be cancer in my lower left lobe of my lung. CT Guided Needle Biopsy proved inconclusive, so entire lower lobe was removed, Fri. the 8th. Pathologists say it's a nodule formed by 'Valley Fever'. I had worked in South New Mexico in oil exploration in early eighties. From what I have read a cold, or flu are the common symptoms, anyone ever heard of anyone with my condition?

Answer: The original name is San Joaquin Valley Fever, where I used to live. Outside the places where it's endemic, even doctors may not have heard of it. The Wikipedia article on it is pretty good, with a nice map of where people get this. I remember seeing an article years ago that showed by antibodies that most people in an endemic area have had some exposure to the fungus that causes this disease. Most have no symptoms. A few have devastating symptoms, including a lingering meningitis. If someone is immunosupressed they can have a severe disease from this, but sometimes it's hard to say why it causes more disease in one person than another, such as your pulmonary nodule. It's very curable by anti-fungal agents once it's diagnosed. Did they think the surgery was all you need? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccidiomyc…

Question: IF YOUR DOG OR CAT HAS EVER HAD VALLEY FEVER (Coccidioidomycosis).......? My cat has had a chronic cough for about 3 weeks now. I took him to the vet last week they prescribe clavorox (I cant spell it). They thought he had parasites. Over the last week his cough got even worse, so back to the vet today we went. My vet thinks he might have "a very rare case of Valley Fever". Now I have looked this up online and he has all the symptons, my only question is if you have had a animal that has contracted Valley Fever (most common in dogs) could you please tell me how long the blood test takes to come back as to if your animal has it or not?

Answer: usually blood tests take 2-3 days, sometimes a week.