Learn the Symptoms of Valley Fever and Valley Fever Treatment
Valley Fever
Valley fever is a disease caused by a fungus that enters through the lungs. It can often go unnoticed because symptoms of the infection are similar to those of colds and flu. Usually, valley fever doesn’t require any treatment but can sometimes become deadly, especially in people with weak immune systems. If left untreated, valley fever can spread to other areas of the body. Valley fever treatment is simple once it has been properly diagnosed.
Valley Fever
Risk Factors
Although anyone can become infected with valley fever, there are certain risk factors that raise a person’s risk for contracting this disease. People with weakened immune systems are more likely to be infected by the fungus than those that have a strong immune system. The infection is more likely to occur in pregnant women, diabetics, and AIDS patients. Certain ethnicity’s are more likely than others to become infected with the disease. Filipinos, Native Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans have an increased risk of contracting valley fever over those of other ethnic backgrounds. People with digging jobs and those that work on construction sites are also more likely to be infected with this disease.
The fungus that causes the condition can only survive in certain environments. The fungus that causes this disease thrives in hot, dry deserts like those in the Southwestern United States. High cases of valley fever are often reported in Central California, Southern Arizona, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Symptoms of Valley Fever
The fungus that causes valley fever grows in dry soil. The fungus becomes airborne when the soil is disturbed. Once the fungus is airborne, it’s then inhaled into the lungs, causing the infection. Dust storms are often the cause of spreading the fungus. Although valley fever does become airborne, it’s not contagious from person to person or from animal contact.
Most of the time a person never knows they have become infected with valley fever because there are often no symptoms or very mild symptoms that resemble a cold or flu. Symptoms of valley fever often begin after the incubation period, which is about one to three weeks after becoming infected. Symptoms of valley fever are often in the form of fevers, chest pains, and dry coughs. Sometimes a rash of red bumps will appear on the body. A person with valley fever can experience fatigue, headaches, and joint aches.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Once a person has been infected with this disease, it’s unlikely the infection will occur again. However, people with weak immune systems have an increased risk of becoming infected again. If the infection’s left untreated, it can begin to spread to the skin, bones, organs, and lymph nodes. Not seeking valley fever treatment can lead to an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, such as meningitis. People with weak immune systems have an increased risk of the disease spreading.
Valley fever is diagnosed through a physical exam. The doctor will ask about any recent traveling and often require a chest x-ray and blood test to check for the fungus. If the fungus is present, Valley fever treatment includes prescribe anti-fungal medications. Frequent x-rays and blood tests will be needed for several months to make sure the fungus has been treated.
There’s no prevention or vaccine for valley fever. For this reason, cases of valley fever have been on the rise. It’s estimated 100,000 people a year have valley fever (Hedding). Arizona has a Valley Fever Awareness Week to try and spread the word about the risks of the infection. More information about the awareness program and other facts about valley fever can be viewed at The University of Arizona.
References:
“Valley Fever” Topic Overview, November 21, 2007, WebMD.com
“Valley Fever” By Judy Hedding, About.com
“Valley Fever Awareness Week 2008” The University of Arizona
“Northern Arizona” By Kevin Connors morguefile.com