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Coccidioidomycosis - acute pulmonary

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Treatment:

The acute disease usually goes away without treatment. Bedrest and treatment of flu-like symptoms until fever disappears may be recommended.

In severe forms of the disease (for example, disseminated coccidioidomycosis ), antifungal treatment with amphotericin B, fluconazole, or itraconazole may be needed. The best length of treatment with these medications has not been determined for this disease.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook in milder cases is usually good. Disseminated coccidioidomycosis can be serious, particularly in people with weakened immune systems.

Complications:

• Chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis
• Disseminated coccidioidomycosis

Calling your health care provider:

• Symptoms develop that suggest coccidioidomycosis
• Symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment
• New symptoms develop

References:

Chiller TM. Coccidioidomycosis. Infect Dis Clin North Am . 2003; 17(1): 41-57, viii.

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000.

Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . 5th ed. London, UK: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:2746-2755.

Galgiani JN, Ampel N, Blair JE, et al. Coccidioidomycosis. Clin Infect Dis . 2005;41:1217-23.

• Review Date: 8/7/2006
• Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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