About 150,000 cases of Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) occur each year in the United States.
Of these, approximately 60% occur in Arizona and 30% occur in California.
Dogs and other pets also are susceptible. Infection results from breathing tiny fungal spores that are released from the soil into the air.
Many infections cause little or no symptoms but approximately a third (~50,000 per year) develop an pneumonia type of illness.
Symptoms include coughing, severe fatigue, joint pain, & rashes.
Valley Fever pneumonia is often misdiagnosed as a bacterial pneumonia or even lung cancer. Inappropriate treatments compromise health, and don't stop the spread of the fungus. While most healthy people can eventually resolve the cocci fungus on their own, this often takes many weeks or many months. A small percentage of patients develop serious complications such as chronic pneumonia or the spread of the fungus elsewhere in the body.
In such cases, extensive medical attention, antifungal drugs, and surgery may be needed over many years. Occasionally, these severe complications are life-threatening.
Join Bill Bellis this Sunday to support the research for Valley Fever in the
Valley Fever Center for Excellence walk.
Sunday, November 1, 2009 with activities from 8 am til 12pm
Downtown Phoenix
Start at 550 E. Van Buren near the Medical Center of the University of Arizona
Canine companions are welcome! Especially Valley Fever survivors.
(Be prepared to pick up after your dog)
$25 Entry FeeRegister online or send a check to benefit:
University of Arizona Foundation - College of Medicine - Valley Fever Center for Excellence
Recent Arizona statistics indicate that those with new Valley Fever infections reported to the state miss an average of a month of work, and those who are hospitalized spend an average of $50,000 each on medical expenses. Far too many residents within the endemic region do not know these basic statistics about Valley Fever, let alone how best to manage it on a case by case basis. As Valley Fever is primarily a disease of the Southwest border states, most people outside of this area know even less. Physicians and the public need to be educated to know when to seek treatment and how to diagnose, treat, and recover from this disease.
The Valley Fever Center for Excellence is working to do this and to develop improved diagnostic tests, new antifungal drugs, and preventive vaccines. The Valley Fever Center for Excellence is seeking volunteers and financial contributions from those who wish to see these education and research efforts continue.
