Valley Fever : New Study
A new study suggests dogs could play a surprising role in public health by helping detect the early spread of Valley fever.
- Valley fever, also known as acute coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection caused by coccidioides organisms.
- Two coccidioides fungi species cause valley fever. These fungi are commonly found in soil in specific regions.
- They are found in the Pacific Northwest and southwestern United States, and parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America.
- The fungi’s spores can be stirred into the air by anything that disrupts the soil, such as farming, construction, and wind.
- People can then breathe the fungi into their lungs.
- Pets can also become Valley fever does not spread from person to person or between people and animals.
- The infection starts in the lung It commonly affects people over 60 years of age.
- Most people with an infection by this fungus never have symptoms.
- Others may have cold- or flu-like symptoms or symptoms of pneumonia.
- If symptoms occur, they typically start 5 to 21 days after exposure to the fungus.
- Rarely, the infection spreads from the lungs through the bloodstream to involve the skin, bones, joints, lymph nodes, and central nervous system or other organs. This spread is called disseminated coccidioidomycosis.
- Treatment:
- Mild cases of valley fever usually resolve on their own.
- In more-severe cases, doctors treat the infection with antifungal medications.
- Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the infected part of the lung (for chronic or severe disease).
