Coccidioidomycosis - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the endemic fungus Coccidioides species.
Most symptomatic coccidioidal infections are mild to severe episodes of pneumonia.
Extrapulmonary infection in sites such as skin, soft tissue, or skeletal or central nervous system occurs infrequently.
Common symptoms include fever, headache, dry cough, shortness of breath, inspiratory chest pain, myalgia, and arthralgia, and may be accompanied by a rash.
Treatment ranges from close observation without medical treatment in mild cases, to medical therapy, primarily with azole antifungals‚ in more severe episodes.

Quick Reference

History & Exam
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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Citations

Key Articles

Thompson GR 3rd, Le T, Chindamporn A, et al. Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of the endemic mycoses: an initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology in cooperation with the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021 Dec;21(12):e364-74.[Abstract]
Galgiani JN, Ampel NM, Blair JE, et al. 2016 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) clinical practice guideline for the treatment of coccidioidomycosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 Sep 15;63(6):e112-46.[Abstract][Full Text]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2024: health information for international travel. Section 5: travel-associated infections and diseases - coccidioidomycosis/valley fever. May 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Medicine Association, and Infectious Diseases Society of America. Panel on Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV: Coccidioidomycosis. 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Hage CA, Carmona EM, Epelbaum O, et al. Microbiological laboratory testing in the diagnosis of fungal infections in pulmonary and critical care practice. An official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Sep 1;200(5):535-50.[Abstract][Full Text]
Limper AH, Knox KS, Sarosi GA, et al; American Thoracic Society Fungal Working Group. An official American Thoracic Society statement: treatment of fungal infections in adult pulmonary and critical care patients. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 Jan 1;183(1):96-128.[Abstract][Full Text]

Other Online Resources

CDC: Valley fever (Coccidioidomycosis)

Referenced Articles

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51. Catanzaro A, Cloud GA, Stevens DA, et al. Safety, tolerance, and efficacy of posaconazole therapy in patients with nonmeningeal disseminated or chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Sep 1;45(5):562-8.[Abstract]
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