Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) Symptoms and Diagnosis

What Are the Symptoms of Coccidioidomycosis?

Many people infected with coccidioidomycosis have no or minimal symptoms. If there are symptoms, they usually occur one to three weeks after exposure and can last for a few weeks to a few months. Typical symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Cough
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Muscle and joint aches
• Night sweats
• Rash on the upper body or legs

Valley fever is often misdiagnosed initially because its  symptoms are similar to those of other respiratory illnesses. These overlapping symptoms may mean you are treated for viral or bacterial pneumonia first. It’s important to report back to your healthcare provider if you have taken a course of antibiotics or antivirals and are not feeling any better. Continue to report new or worsening symptoms as you work with your healthcare provider to determine the cause of your lung infection.

How Coccidioidomycosis Is Diagnosed

Valley fever can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other lung diseases. When you visit your healthcare provider, they will look at your medical history, ask about your symptoms and complete a physical exam. It is important to share your recent travel history with your provider. If Valley fever is suspected, a blood test can help diagnose this disease. The test will look for antibodies that the body produces in response to the Coccidioides fungus. However, early in the course of infection, the initial test may come back negative, so you may need to take the test again. Other tests that may help diagnose coccidioidomycosis are: 

• Sputum samples, produced by coughing or obtained by bronchoscopy, to look for the fungus in a lab culture
• Chest X-ray and/or CT scan (to look for Valley fever pneumonia)
• Biopsy of the affected site, typically the lung, to look for the fungus in the infected tissue
• If you have a history of Valley fever, there is a skin test available that your provider may order to determine if your body has an immune response to the fungus that causes coccidioidomycosis.

Healthcare providers outside the regions where the Coccidioides fungus lives  may be less familiar with the disease, so diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis is often delayed and may require multiple  visits to your provider. Even in areas where this fungus is more common, diagnosis can be delayed which can result in severe disease. To prevent coccidioidomycosis from going undiagnosed, specific tests may be needed and good communication with your provider about your medical and travel history is vital.