Coccidioidomycosis | Pathogenesis | Epidemiology | Clinical | Lab diagnosis 

#mycology #fungi #microbiology #coccidioidomycosis #fungalinfection #valleyfever #desertrheumatism
Valley fever, also called coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides. The fungus is known to live in the soil in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. The fungus was also recently found in south-central Washington.
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.