Coccidioidomycosis

The coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, desert fever or Wüstenrheumatismus, is an infection which is caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis.

The pathogen is usually absorbed by the respiratory air. As in dry climates many spores are whirled and so a airborne infection of the airways is more likely that coccidioidomycosis is more common in desert regions such as Arizona or Texas. Endemic to the Americas are the southwestern United States ( the entire border region with Mexico), northern Mexico, and parts of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. The most common manifestation is the lungs (pneumonia ). The incubation time is about 3 weeks. Due to the proliferation of the pathogen within the lung occurs in immunocompetent patients about a medical condition, which is similar to the flu (infection of the respiratory tract, fatigue and increased body temperature). In addition, skin lesions ( multifomartiges rash, erythema nodosum ) may occur. Verrucous - ulcerative Vegetans herd of the skin can also occur primarily when the skin is the portal of entry. In the United States, where the disease is usually known under the name Valley Fever, has been a steady increase in incidence, especially in the southwest of the country is observed. In the year 2011 22.401 cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) have been reported, the actual number of infections is certainly higher and is estimated to about 150,000 per year because many fungal infections are not recognized as such.

Particularly at risk are persons occupationally exposed to reside in these areas ( military personnel, archaeologists ) as well as pregnant women, people with immune deficiencies, African Americans and Asians. It can - especially in immunocompromised patients - come to a hematogenous spread. This granulomatous lesions occur in the joints or in the meninges, which often takes a fatal ( lethal ) output in the latter case.

The treatment of choice is oral azole antifungals.