Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
什么是Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)？
Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, “San Joaquin Valley fever” or “desert rheumatism”, is a fungal infection that occurs when the spores that are the reproductive form of the fungus Coccidioides immitis enter the body through the lungs. Most of these infections (60%) develop little or no symptoms and heal completely without need for specific treatment. Rarely (less than 1%), the infection may spread from the lungs through the bloodstream to involve other organs. This form of Valley Fever is known as disseminated coccidioidomycosis and is a more severe disease. People over 60 years of age are at higher risk of developing a more serious form of this infection.
如何获得Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)？
The fungus that causes Valley Fever lives in dust and soil in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico and Central and South America. People can get infected by the fungus when they breathe in the microscopic fungal spores from the air when the soil is disturbed, especially during dry periods.
易感性和抗性
Anyone is susceptible to Valley Fever. Certain people are more likely to develop more severe forms of Valley Fever, including people who have weakened immune systems (such as those with HIV/AIDS, who have had an organ transplant, and who are taking medications like corticosteroids), pregnant women, people with diabetes, and people who are Black or Filipino. Recovery from Valley Fever generally leads to lifelong immunity.
症状是什么？
Most infected people (60%) do not show any symptoms. Of those that do, most develop flu-like symptoms that usually go away on their own after a few weeks. These symptoms include fatigue, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, night sweats, muscle and joint aches, and rash on upper body or legs. The spores can also enter through a cut or wound and cause a skin infection, but this only occurs in extremely rare cases.
A small percentage of people develop a more severe form of Valley Fever. In approximately 5 to 10% of people, the infection can cause serious and long-term lung problems. In about 1% of people, the infection spreads to other parts of the body, such as the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, or bones and joints.
预防措施
在真菌孢子生活在土壤和尘土中的地区，很难防止其被吸入，但是即使在多尘地区，发芽谷热的风险也很低。风险较高的人可能会通过避免在流行地区的粉尘中呼吸而降低感染的机会。旅行者可以采取一些简单的措施来避免吸入灰尘，例如，避开灰尘多的区域或在这些区域（建筑或挖掘现场）佩戴N95防毒面具，在沙尘暴期间呆在室内并关闭窗户，避免进行以下活动：与污垢或灰尘紧密接触（园艺或挖掘），在室内进行空气过滤，用肥皂和水彻底清洗皮肤损伤，并根据医疗保健提供者的建议服用预防性的抗真菌药物。
处理
In most people with Valley Fever, the symptoms are not severe and will go away within a few weeks without the need for treatment. Some healthcare providers may prescribe antifungal medication to reduce symptoms or prevent them from getting worse, particularly for people who are at high risk of developing a more severe infection.
它常见于哪里？
球藻类真菌生活在美国西南部，墨西哥以及中南美洲的某些地区的灰尘和土壤中。在美国，这种真菌生活在亚利桑那州，加利福尼亚州，内华达州，新墨西哥州，德克萨斯州和犹他州。最近在华盛顿州中南部也发现了它。
