Where is Valley Fever most common in California?

Where in California is Valley fever most common? Valley fever has been diagnosed in people living throughout California, but most cases are reported in people living in the Central Valley and Central Coast.

Moreover, how common is valley fever in California?

In 2018, there were 15,611 cases of Valley fever reported to CDC. Most of these cases were in people who live in Arizona or California. Rates of Valley fever are typically highest among people age 60 and older.

One may also ask, who is most likely to get Valley Fever? Valley fever can affect people of any age, but it's most common in adults aged 60 and older. Certain groups of people may be at higher risk for developing the severe forms of Valley fever, such as: People who have weakened immune systems, for example, people who: Have HIV/AIDS.

Furthermore, what causes Valley Fever in California?

Valley fever is caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis), or by Coccidioides posadasii (C. posadasii). It is also known as coccidioidomycosis, California disease, desert rheumatism, and San Joaquin valley fever.

Where do you catch Valley Fever?

From soil to lungs The fungus that causes Valley fever, Coccidioides, is found in the southwestern United States, parts of Mexico and Central America, and parts of South America. The fungus has also been found in south-central Washington State. It probably lives in other areas in the western United States.

Is Valley Fever common in Arizona?

Valley fever is common in the southwestern United States. In the U.S., over 65 percent of all valley fever cases occur in Arizona, and 30 percent occur in California. Most other cases occur in Nevada, Utah and New Mexico. Valley fever is a risk for people who live in these states but also for people who visit there.

What are the first symptoms of Valley Fever?

Symptoms of Valley fever include:

Fatigue (tiredness)
Cough.
Fever.
Shortness of breath.
Headache.
Night sweats.
Muscle aches or joint pain.
Rash on upper body or legs.

How do you check for Valley Fever?

The most common way that healthcare providers test for Valley fever is by taking a blood sample and sending it to a laboratory to look for Coccidioides antibodies or antigens. Healthcare providers may do imaging tests such as chest x-rays or CT scans of your lungs to look for Valley fever pneumonia.

Where is Valley Fever in California?

Where in California is Valley fever most common? Valley fever has been diagnosed in people living throughout California, but most cases are reported in people living in the Central Valley and Central Coast.

Where is valley fever in Arizona?

Valley fever is one of the most commonly reported infectious diseases in Arizona, and of those cases, 94 percent are in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties, all desert areas.

Can you have Valley Fever and not know it?

The majority of people infected with Valley Fever either have no symptoms or experience common symptoms like cough, headache, joint pain and night sweats that are similar to a cold or the flu. But for some, untreated Valley Fever can lead to chronic fatigue, severe weight loss, pneumonia, meningitis or even death.

How long does it take to get rid of valley fever?

Treatment for Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) The treatment is usually 3 to 6 months of fluconazole or another type of antifungal medication. There are no over-the-counter medications to treat Valley fever. If you have Valley fever, you should talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need treatment.

How do you kill valley fever spores?

For the most severely ill, doctors use intravenous drugs called amphotericins. They generally work more quickly than the azoles and can kill valley fever. But they don't work for everyone, especially in cases where the fungus has spread to the brain and caused meningitis.

How long does a blood test for valley fever take?

Traditional serology tests take between 48 and 72 hours, but some labs, including the Kern County Public Health Services Department laboratory, can turn around immunodiffusion tests in 24 hours and complement fixation tests in about three hours to confirm the disease in the body, according to Valley Fever Americas

What is valley fever and how do you get it?

Summary. Valley Fever is a disease caused by a fungus (or mold) called Coccidioides. The fungi live in the soil of dry areas like the southwestern U.S. You get it from inhaling the spores of the fungus. The infection cannot spread from person to person.

What time of year is valley fever worse?

Valley fever season starts this month. Most cases surface between September and November, but through August this year more than 5,000 cases were reported in California, putting the state on pace for a new record. “We're seeing a huge increase in new cases in the past two-and-a-half years.

Does Valley Fever scar the lungs?

Long-term outlook. If you have acute valley fever, you most likely will get better without any complications. The chronic form of the infection can cause lung abscesses and scarring in your lungs.

What is the blood test called for valley fever?

The guidelines note valley fever can be diagnosed with simple blood tests called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIA), which test for antibodies to the fungus. Because it may take weeks or months for an EIA to show a positive result, taking a culture of the fungus from the sputum is another option.

What is the best treatment for valley fever?

In general, the antifungal drugs fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox, Onmel) are used for all but the most serious forms of coccidioidomycosis disease. All antifungals can have serious side effects. However, these side effects usually go away once the medication is stopped.

What does a fungal infection in the lungs look like?

Aspergillosis is infection, usually of the lungs, caused by the fungus Aspergillus. A ball of fungus fibers, blood clots, and white blood cells may form in the lungs or sinuses. People may have no symptoms or may cough up blood or have a fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

Can Valley Fever affect the brain?

Disseminated valley fever This is the most serious form of valley fever. It happens when the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. It can affect many organs, and particularly the skin, liver, brain, bones, meninges, and heart.