Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis (/kɒkˌsɪdiɔɪdoʊmaɪˈkoʊsɪs/, kok-SID-ee-oy-doh-my-KOH-sis), commonly known as cocci, Valley fever, as well as California fever, desert rheumatism, or San Joaquin Valley fever, is a mammalian fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii. Coccidioidomycosis is endemic in certain parts of the United States in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and northern Mexico.
| Coccidioidomycosis | |
|---|---|
| Histopathological changes in a case of coccidioidomycosis of the lung showing a large fibrocaseous nodule. | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Types | Acute, chronic |
| Causes | Coccidioides |
| Treatment | Antifungal medication |
| Medication | Amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole |
C. immitis is a dimorphic saprophytic fungus that grows as a mycelium in the soil and produces a spherule form in the host organism. C. immitis is dormant during long dry spells, then develops as a mold with long filaments that break off into airborne spores when it rains.
Coccidioidomycosis is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the endemic areas of the United States. Infections usually occur due to inhalation of the arthroconidial spores after soil disruption. The disease is not contagious. In some cases the infection may recur or become chronic.