Coccidioidomycosis
Basics
Description
- A pulmonary fungal infection caused by the dimorphic fungus, Coccidioides immitis, which is endemic to the southwestern deserts of the United States:
- Transmitted through inhalation of air-borne fungal spores (arthroconidia)
- Rarely progresses to involve extrapulmonary sites (<1%): bone, CNS, endocrine/metabolic, musculoskeletal, nervous, pulmonary, skin, and exocrine systems
- Incubation period is 1 to 4 weeks after exposure.
- Pulmonary infection most common clinical manifestation; most commonly subacute; more than half of infections are subclinical (1).
- Synonym(s): desert rheumatism; cocci; valley fever
Epidemiology
Affects patients of all ages, with no gender predilection
Incidence
- In the United States: 150,000 cases estimated per year (0.5% extrapulmonary); only about 10,000 cases are actually reported. Overall incidence is rising; 73% increase in African Americans, who also have a higher rate of invasive disease than Caucasians (2)
- Endemic in
- Southern Arizona
- Southern and Central California
- Southwestern New Mexico, West Texas
- Parts of Mexico, Central and South America
- Increased construction activities, such as home-building, especially in the southwestern United States, has likely resulted in increased aerosolization of fungal spores from soil, leading to increased exposure to and infection with C. immitis.
- From 1940 to 2015, 47 worldwide outbreaks were reported (1,500 cases total) (3). Outbreaks occurred after an earthquake, a large dust storm, construction, archaeological sites, military maneuvers, and laboratory exposures (3).
Prevalence
Up to 17–29% of community-acquired pneumonias in endemic areas (1)
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- C. immitis is a soil-dwelling fungus well adapted to arid conditions. The organism can remain dormant in the soil for years.
- Liberated spores (arthroconidia) are inhaled when soil is disturbed. Upon inhalation, spores convert to spherules in the lung to cause clinical disease.
- Infrequently, spores are introduced through a wound.
Risk Factors
- Certain groups are more prone to dissemination:
- Immunosuppressed patients: chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive drugs for cancer or transplant patients, diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, long-term steroid use, transplant patients, pregnancy
- Blacks and Filipinos at higher risk
- Previously infected patients can experience relapse years later through cell-mediated immune deficiency.
- CNS involvement more common in young white men
General Prevention
- No person-to-person spread
- Lab cultures are highly contagious (inhalation); use caution when handling specimens.
- High-risk patients should avoid archaeological digs, spelunking, or exposure to dust in endemic areas (difficult due to construction, dust storms, etc.).
There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.
Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Coccidioidomycosis." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816036/all/Coccidioidomycosis.
Coccidioidomycosis. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816036/all/Coccidioidomycosis. Accessed December 3, 2024.
Coccidioidomycosis. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816036/all/Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 03]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816036/all/Coccidioidomycosis.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Coccidioidomycosis
ID - 816036
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816036/all/Coccidioidomycosis
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 33
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -