Where is Valley fever located?

Where is Valley fever located?

Valley fever is a serious, costly illness. The fungus that causes Valley fever is found in soil in the southwestern United States, parts of Mexico and Central America, and parts of South America. It has also been found in south-central Washington state.

How do you contact Valley fever?

People can get Valley fever by breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air, although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick.

What states can you get Valley fever?

The fungus that causes Valley fever lives in the soil in the southwestern United States, south-central Washington State, and parts of Mexico and Central and South America.

Does Valley fever damage your lungs?

Coccidioidomycosis, commonly referred to as “Valley fever,” is an infection that typically affects the lungs. It is caused by a fungus found in the soil in the southwestern United States and California, northern Mexico and parts of Central and South America.

Where is blastomycosis endemic?

Blastomycosis. Blastomycosis is considered endemic to the south-central, southeastern, and midwestern US states, particularly those bordering the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and in parts of the United States and Canada surrounding the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River (2,5).

Where is Valley Fever happening most recently?

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.

Can you be immune to Valley fever?

Valley fever is not contagious. You cannot get it from another person or from animals. After getting better, most people will not get valley fever again. This is called being immune.

How do you get rid of fungus in your lungs?

Antifungal drugs: These medications are generally used to treat invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Voriconazole is currently the drug of choice because it causes fewer side effects and appears to be more effective than other medications. Amphotericin B or itraconazole are also effective in treating infection.

Can you get valley fever twice?

If you’ve already had Valley fever, your immune system will most likely protect you from getting it again. Some people can have the infection come back again (a relapse) after getting better the first time, but this is very rare.

Does Valley Fever ever leave your body?

How is Valley fever treated? For many people, the symptoms of Valley fever will go away within a few months without any treatment. Healthcare providers choose to prescribe antifungal medication for some people to try to reduce the severity of symptoms or prevent the infection from getting worse.

How do you detect blastomycosis?

Symptoms of blastomycosis may include:

1. Cough, or cough with blood.
2. Fever.
3. Shortness of breath.
4. Chills and/or night sweats.
5. Fatigue.
6. Weight loss and poor appetite.
7. Joint or bone pain.
8. Back or chest pain.

How can you tell if you have blastomycosis?

Signs & Symptoms Blastomycosis is an infectious disease characterized by fever, chills, headaches, chest pain, weight loss, night sweats, cough, and/or difficulty breathing (dyspnea). Some affected individuals do not experience these symptoms although they are actively infected (asymptomatic).

Who is required to report cases of Valley fever?

In many states, healthcare providers and laboratories are required to report Valley fever cases to public health authorities. Disease reporting allows government officials to monitor trends in Valley fever cases. Advanced molecular detection.

What to do if you have Valley fever?

The symptoms of Valley fever can be similar to those of other respiratory illnesses. People who have symptoms of Valley fever and live in or have visited an area where the fungus is common should ask their doctor to test them for Valley fever. Valley fever is a fungal lung infection that can be devastating.

Can you get Valley fever in a dusty setting?

Your risk for infection could increase if you will be in a very dusty setting, but even then the risk is still low. If you have questions about your risk of getting Valley fever while traveling, talk to your healthcare provider.

How old do you have to be to get Valley fever?

Anyone can get Valley fever if they live in or travel to an area where the fungus lives in the environment. Valley fever can affect people of any age, but it’s most common in adults aged 60 and older. Also, certain groups of people may be at higher risk for developing the severe forms of Valley fever, such as: