ð ç« æ«éèš
- Valley Fever: Coccidioides spp. (immitis + posadasii)
- SW USA + Northern Mexico + Latin America endemic
- Spherules with endospores = pathognomonic
- Acute: flu-like + erythema nodosum + arthralgia (âdesert rheumatismâ) + eosinophilia
- Dissemination risk: Filipino + African American + pregnancy + immunocompromise
- Treatment: most asymptomatic / mild â observation; severe / disseminated â fluconazole; CNS = lifelong fluconazole
- Pregnancy: AmB (avoid azoles)
- BSL-3 lab (highly infectious cultures)
- 2024 climate change: range expanding
ç§é«åž« hint
- SW USA returnee + flu-like + erythema nodosum + arthralgia â Valley Fever
- HIV + endemic area + skin / bone lesion â disseminated coccidioidomycosis
- Pregnant + endemic + symptoms â AmB