• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Skin lesion of coccidioidomycosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Treatment:

The mainstay of treatment includes antifungal medications. Depending on the form or stage of disease, intravenous or oral forms of medications may be used. Antifungal agents commonly used include amphotericin B, itraconazole, ketoconazole, or fluconazole. People with disseminated disease and underlying immunosuppression may require long-term treatment.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome varies with the stage and extent of infection, as well as the underlying immune system status of the individual. Disseminated disease has the highest mortality rate, particularly in immunosuppressed individuals.

Complications:

• Secondary bacterial skin infection
• Skin abscess
• Complications related to medications

Calling your health care provider:

There are many types of skin lesions, and they can be hard to tell apart. Notify your medical provider if you develop skin lesions and suspect this condition, because you will need to be tested.

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: 9/5/2006
• Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.