What type of doctor treats valley fever

However, most pregnant women with Valley Fever do fine. If you are pregnant and think you have Valley Fever, you should visit your physician. Valley Fever is rare in newborn babies. Most babies who get Valley Fever probably acquire it during or shortly after birth, through inhaling fungal spores from the environment. In many cases the fungus does remain in the body. If the person's immune system is greatly immunocompromised, a reactivation of the disease may occur.

Usually a life-time immunity is acquired from an infection which means you don't get it again. However, occasionally, changes in the person's immune system brought about by other diseases or treatments which lower or suppress the immune system can allow a reactivation or re-infection. Skip to main content. You are here Home » Valley Fever in People. But, there are general patterns that are different and can provide you clues: COVID is an emerging epidemic.

The number of confirmed cases is on the rise and based on current projections, it is expected to peak in Arizona in the next couple of weeks. The risk for Valley fever is ever-present with seasonal fluctuations each year. As COVID hopefully declines over the coming months, the number of Valley fever cases are expected to increase into the summer. COVID causes a more acute illness. In contrast, while Valley fever sometimes starts abruptly, it typically continues for weeks to several months before symptoms completely resolve.

While Valley fever can result in respiratory failure in rare cases, the infection can also spread to other parts of the body, causing destruction in bones, skin, the brain or elsewhere. What is Valley Fever? How does one become infected with Valley Fever? What are spherules? Is Valley Fever contagious? Is Valley Fever contagious from an open lesion? Is it safe for Valley Fever patients to donate their blood or organs?

It varies by blood bank. Ask your blood bank about their regulations. How do I prevent getting Valley Fever? Who gets Valley Fever? Is there a seasonal variation in the spread of Valley Fever? What is the incubation period for Valley Fever? Symptoms usually develop within days after exposure.

What are the symptoms of Valley Fever? What is Valley Fever Skin rash like? What are lung nodules and do they go away? The doctor says I have a cavity. Do I need surgery? How long will I be sick? Is there a cure for Valley Fever? What is the chronic form of Valley Fever? How is Valley Fever diagnosed? Will a skin test detect Valley Fever? Can Valley Fever be misdiagnosed?

What kinds of doctors know most about Valley Fever? I don't live in an endemic area, but I need a Valley Fever specialist. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis To diagnose valley fever, your doctor may evaluate your medical history and review your signs and symptoms. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Valley fever coccidioidomycosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed July 9, Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Certain groups of people are at higher risk for becoming severely ill.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Fungal Diseases. Section Navigation. If the doctor suspects valley fever, specific diagnostic tests can check for coccidioides spherules, or cysts , in blood, tissue, or saliva. Most people do not need treatment for valley fever. Even in more severe cases, the best treatment is normally to rest and to consume a lot of liquids, as with a flu or cold.

Although these antifungal medications control the fungus, they do not eliminate it. There remains a risk of relapse.

Most of the nodules will go away, but some may rupture, resulting in severe chest pain and breathing difficulties.

The patient may need a tube inserted into the space around the lungs to remove the air. Sometimes surgery is required. The most serious complication is when the disease becomes disseminated. The fungus spreads through the bloodstream to various parts of the body, and this can affect many organs. The patient can develop skin ulcers, bone lesions, abscesses, severe joint pain, inflammation of the heart, problems with the urinary tract, and meningitis.

A study published in found that valley fever can worsen the symptoms of asthma , but that asthma does not make a person more susceptible to valley fever. A fungal infection of the genitals can affect anyone. Caused by the yeast species Candida albicans, symptoms include itching, irritation, and burning….

Thrush is a fungal infection caused by Candida yeasts. There are two types: genital thrush, which, in men, can cause irritation and swelling at the…. A person with RMSF faces a high chance of complications and…. A fungus is one of a wide range of living organisms, some of them beneficial to health, others less so.