Valley Fever in Our Valley

Introduction

Unless you were born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley, more than likely, you have probably never even heard of Coccidioidomycosis. The reason is that this illness is most prevalent in the Central California rural areas. Because of its popularity in this region, Coccidioidomycosis is more commonly referred to as Valley Fever or San Joaquin Valley Fever.

Even though there are many individuals that never heard of Valley Fever, it does not diminish the fact that this illness is a serious concern for those who are contracted by it.

Year after year statistics have shown that reported Valley Fever cases continue to rise in the San Joaquin Valley. Ironically there are many individuals that live in this area, that have no idea what Valley Fever is, how you get it, what the symptoms are, or its potential complications from having it. Knowing this, it raises the question to know if the healthcare community is educating the population about this rising healthcare issue.

Defining Coccidioidomycosis

Valley Fever, or its formal name, Coccidioidomycosis, is a respiratory, infectious disease caused by mold that grows in the soil (CDPH.gov, 2016). Coccidioides, which is the actual fungus that lives and grows in the dirt, thrives and becomes prominent after a rainy period followed by a lengthy dry cycle. When areas have the above conditions, Valley Fever is contracted by individuals breathing in tiny spores stirred up from dry, dusty soil infecting the lungs (Opshal, 2017).

There are two different types of fungi that can cause Valley Fever.

Get quality help now

Sweet V

Verified

Proficient in: Fever

4.9 (984)

“ Ok, let me say I’m extremely satisfy with the result while it was a last minute thing. I really enjoy the effort put in. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

The most common one, which affects most individuals that live in California, is called “cocci immitis”. The second fungus that affects individuals that live outside of California is called “cocci posadasii” (Gaab, 2015).

Coccidioidomycosis was first diagnosed in Argentina in the 1890s. During this timeframe, the disease presented pathogens that were similar to protozoa. However, it was later confirmed that it was actually a fungus, not a protozoa that gives rise to the disease (Davis, 2018).

As previously stated, Valley Fever is very prominent in California with over 75% of reported cases in California have been from our own San Joaquin Valley (CDPH.gov, 2016). California reported in 2014 that 2,243 instances were reported with that number increasing to 3,053 by 2015. In addition to its popularity in the San Joaquin Valley, a significant amount of cases have also been reported in the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, with most of their cases being diagnosed at the end of Summer through early Fall (Davis, 2018).

Signs & Symptoms

Valley Fever is not contagious and it can easily be mistaken for a cold or the flu because they both have very similar symptoms. It has been reported that patients who contract the illness have symptoms of headaches, fever, cough, fatigue muscle and joint aches, and even rashes. In many instances, individuals that were diagnosed with Valley Fever, recovered with little to no medical intervention. However, if the illness is severe enough, the disease can spread to other parts of the body including the reproductive organs, joints, and teeth. And in extraordinary cases, it can also lead to hospitalization and even loss of life (Bartolone, 2017).

Diagnosing Coccidioidomycosis

Since the flu symptoms are very much like Valley Fever symptoms, diagnosing the disease can be difficult for healthcare professionals. In my opinion, this is probably one of the most common reasons why that Valley Fever is misdiagnosed, under reported and mistreated for so many years.

Fortunately, there are many different tests and exams that can be performed on the patient to help diagnose Valley Fever. One of the most common exams a patient can receive is a chest x-ray to verify if there are any irregularities in the lungs. This is usually the first exam that is done when a patient complains of the symptoms. Additionally, a CT or an MRI exam may also be completed. Furthermore, blood tests, bronchoscopy, lumbar puncture, and even a needle biopsy can be performed to determine the severity of the illness. (Davis, 2018).

Cures, Treatments, & Prognosis

At the moment, there is no cure for Coccidioidomycosis. However, researchers, at this time, are diligently conducting studies of new drugs that have the potential to cure the fungus infection (Gaab, 2015).

It has been determined that over 60% of Valley Fever cases reported required no treatment at all. Nevertheless, there are quite a few antifungal medications available to remedy Coccidioidomycosis, if needed (Davis, 2018).

For the most part, the greater amount of individuals that are diagnosed with Valley Fever, will have no long lasting permanent effects of the illness. There may be some residuals of calcified areas, nodules or cavities in the lungs, but should dissipate after a couple of years.

Unfortunately, the elderly and people with diabetes will only have a fair prognosis because these individuals are more prone to develop various pulmonary diseases. Additionally, individuals with HIV and cancer are considered “high risk” for developing Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis, which has a grim prognosis (Davis, 2018).

On a personal reference, my older brother was diagnosed with Valley Fever when he was 15 years old. Before he was diagnosed, he was a very healthy person, in which he played numerous sports and had no previous health issues. After being diagnosed, however, he was more susceptible of getting colds, the flu, and even pneumonia. He does not have any chronic respiratory issues at this time, however, when he does get a cold or flu, it really knocks him down for quite some time.

Awareness of Coccidioidomycosis

According to an article As Valley Fever Cases Spike, Experts Say Awareness is Vital, it reports that it can take months for doctors to accurately diagnose Coccidioidomycosis, which in turn, delays treatment and prolongs the symptoms (Opsahl, 2017). It is up to individuals to advocate for their health. Therefore, people need be aware of how Valley Fever can be contracted and advocate for your health to ensure the correct diagnosis is made.

Conclusion

In my view, there is not enough awareness regarding Valley Fever. We live in the San Joaquin Valley, where it is most prevalent. More cases are reported each year, and on top of that, we have unfavorable air quality.

When my brother was diagnosed with Valley Fever, my parents had no prior knowledge of the illness and how it was contracted. All they knew was that it had something to do with dirt. So for the longest time, we were not allowed on the dirt, which was totally fine with me.

With all seriousness, our communities, especially in the rural farm areas, need to be continually educated on Coccidioidomycosis. After all, education and awareness is the key to a healthy fulfilling life.

References

1. Bartolone, P. (2017, July). California Valley Fever Cases Highest On Record, Kaiser Health. News, 3.
2. Davis, C. (2018). Valley Fever Diagnosis, Treatment & Symptoms. [online] medicinenet.com. Available at: http://www.medicinenet.com/valley_fever/article.htm#valley_fever_coccidioidomycosis_facts [Accessed 1 Oct. 2018].
3. Gaab, E. M., & Naeem, F. (2015). Pediatric Coccidioidomycosis Patients: Perceptions, Quality of Life and Psychosocial Factors. Healthcare, 3(3), 775–795. http://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare3030775
4. Jude, C., Nayak, N., Patel, M., Deshmukh, M. and Batra, P. (2014). Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis: Pictorial Review of Chest Radiographic and CT Findings. Chest Imaging, 34(912-925).
5. Opsahl, R. (2017). As Valley Fever Cases Spike, Experts say Awareness is vital. The Sacramento Bee, [online] p.2. Available at: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/araaticle137.html [Accessed October. 2018].
6. United States, Health and Human Services Agency, Division of Communicable Disease Control. (2016, January). Valley Fever Fact Sheet. Retrieved October, 2018, from www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cid/dcdc/pages/coccidioidomycosis.aspx