What are the symtoms of valley fever in people?
Valley fever is another name for the sometimes deadly infection coccidioidomycosis. It is called valley fever because the organism that causes it is commonly found in the soil of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. Valley fever usually affects the lungs. When it affects other parts of the body, it is called disseminated valley fever. SYMPTOMS About 60% of infected persons have no symptoms. The rest develop flu-like symptoms that can last for a month and tiredness that can sometimes last for longer than a few weeks. A small percentage of infected persons (<1%) can develop disease that spreads outside the lungs to the brain, bone, and skin (disseminated disease). Without proper treatment, valley fever can lead to severe pneumonia, meningitis, and even death.
