Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), better known as valley fever, is a condition that damages the lungs. Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by a fungus known as Coccidioides. You get Coccidioidomycosis when you accidentally inhale the fungus, and it gets into your lungs. It can cause breathing problems, coughing, and other symptoms that affect your lungs.
In some cases, however, Coccidioidomycosis does not cause any symptoms, and the condition goes away without treatment. Some people never even find out when they have Coccidioidomycosis because the symptoms are so minor or non-existent. Coccidioidomycosis is most common in the Southwest, Washington, and Central and South America.
In the event that your case of Coccidioidomycosis does cause harmful symptoms, you will need treatment. This is because valley fever is the earliest stage of Coccidioidomycosis and could lead to other, more serious complications. To keep this from happening, it is important to have Coccidioidomycosis diagnosed as early as possible while it is still in the valley fever stage. Treatment, when necessary, can include the following.
As we said before, most cases of Coccidioidomycosis go away on their own and do not require any form of treatment. Therefore, if you get diagnosed with Coccidioidomycosis but it has not caused many symptoms or lung damage, your doctor may recommend a wait-and-see approach.
Using this approach, you will likely have to self-monitor yourself for symptoms and gauge how you are feeling. If you think your condition is getting worse, you should schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor so that you can start treatments.
If your symptoms do not go away on their own, the primary treatment for Coccidioidomycosis is antifungal medications. Antifungal medications are drugs you take orally or through an IV or shot. Once in your system, antifungal medications kill the fungus that causes Coccidioidomycosis. Once the virus dies, your symptoms and condition typically disappear within several days or a week.
Several different medications can treat Coccidioidomycosis, including fluconazole and itraconazole. Both of these medications work the same way by getting rid of the fungus in your lungs, and the right medication for you will depend on what your doctor has on hand. For more serious infections, you may need voriconazole or posaconazole.
While antifungal medications are the best treatment for Coccidioidomycosis, they have the most serious side effects. For instance, antifungal medications can cause hair loss, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, dry mouth, and more.
If you do not want to take antifungal medications and prefer the wait-and-see approach, your doctor will likely recommend some home remedies. For starters, getting as much rest as possible and avoiding working out or doing strenuous activities is important.
In addition to getting plenty of rest, it is important to drink lots of fluids and to stay hydrated. You should also get plenty of vitamins and minerals into your system to boost your immune system.
If you live in an area where the Coccidioides can grow, prevention may be your best option. You will not get Coccidioidomycosis if you do not inhale the fungus that causes it. Therefore, it is a good idea to wear a protective mask and other protective breathing equipment when going outside in areas with Coccidioides. You should also keep your windows closed when there are known outbreaks.
While Coccidioidomycosis can be a frightening condition, it is rarely serious and often goes away on its own. However, in the rare instances where you start to display symptoms of valley fever, you should see a doctor immediately and begin treatment. If you treat Coccidioidomycosis while it is in the valley fever stage, it may not progress to more serious stages.