Symptoms:

About 60% of infections get better without ever causing symptoms. In the remaining 40% of infections, symptoms range from mild (cold-like or flu-like) to severe (pneumonia).

In less than 1% of infections, the fungus spreads from the lungs through the bloodstream to involve the skin, bones, joints, lymph nodes, and central nervous system or other organs.

If they occur, symptoms may include:

• Chest pain (varies from mild to severe)
• Chills
• Cough
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint stiffness
• Lymph node swelling
• Muscle aches
• Muscle stiffness
• Night sweats
• Rash, may be painful, red lumps, on lower legs (erythema nodosum)
• Sputum or phlegm
• Weight loss

See also:

• Coccidioidomycosis
• Skin lesion of coccidioidomycosis

Signs and tests:

• Biopsy of lymph node or lung (often done with bronchoscopy)
• Blood test for antibodies to the fungus
• Bronchoscopy with lavage
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Sputum smear (KOH test or Papanicolaou stain)