14 Things to Keep in Mind about Valley Fever

Valley Fever is a fungal infection that can happen due to certain organisms that may be found in specific regions throughout the world. The fungi are commonly found in soil and disturbing that soil can cause the fungi to detach from their stems and fly upward where they can be breathed in. There are two different species that actually cause Valley Fever. But both of them are found in soil and geographic locations are basically the same.

Valley Fever, which is also called acute coccidioidomycosis, is usually not severely harmful or fatal to those with a healthy immune system. Often, Valley Fever resolves on its own due to the immune response within the body. In some cases, doctors will prescribe antifungal medications when the illness is more severe. You need to be aware of the symptoms and the progression of the disease as well as the things that are listed here so you can avoid getting it in the first place.

1. Valley Fever is Just the First Stage of the Infection

The infection actually has two different stages. The first stage is the less serious stage, and most people will not progress past that first stage if they are healthy. People with a healthy immune system can fight off the infection without even noticing that they have any of the symptoms quite often.

Allowing the disease to progress to its second stage can have severe detrimental effects on the body and cause a variety of symptoms that can be really hard to pin down. That’s why it is important to get tested right away if you believe that you have Valley Fever. If you allow it to progress to the second stage, then it could be spread throughout the body and cause many symptoms and various organs and disrupt much of what your body does on a regular basis. The second form of the disease is known as chronic and disseminated coccidioidomycosis.