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Q.

What is the prognosis for valley fever (coccidioidomycosis)?

Related Topics: Valley Fever, Coccidioidomycosis
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A.

The majority of people who get infected with the Coccidioides fungi have a good prognosis, as the infection is usually self-limiting. Some people with the self-limiting disease may get a few small calcified areas in the lung, but these often cause no problems for the person. Chronic disease may produce more nodules and cavities in the lung and take a year or two to resolve, but usually the prognosis is good for many patients.

However, people with diabetes or the elderly have a only a fair prognosis, as they can develop progressive pulmonary disease with symptoms (shortness of breath, lung fibrosis, and cavities in the lungs) that persist for years.

Progressive coccidioidomycosis has a poor prognosis. About 1% of patients are at high risk (usually immunosuppressed due to HIV, cancer, or chemotherapy) for developing disseminated coccidioidomycosis, and these patients have a grave prognosis. Patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis can have rapid development of all the symptoms listed above and die if the disease is not appropriately and rapidly treated.

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