How long dies Valley fever last?

How long dies Valley fever last?

The symptoms of Valley fever usually last for a few weeks to a few months. However, some patients have symptoms that last longer than this, especially if the infection becomes severe. Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs.

Where is Valley fever common?

Valley Fever (also known as Desert Rheumatism or San Joaquin Valley Fever) is Arizona’s disease. While rare at a national level, Valley Fever is common in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Every year, 150,000 people in the U.S. are infected, and Arizona is home to two-thirds of them.

What does Valley fever do to your lungs?

Most people struck with Valley Fever recover on their own. Some patients, like Pierce, develop lung nodules, which are small patches of infection in the lungs that can be mistaken for lung cancer. For Pierce, antifungal medications taken for a year helped him recover from the infection.

Does valley fever make you immunocompromised?

In many cases the fungus does remain in the body. If the person’s immune system is greatly immunocompromised, a reactivation of the disease may occur. This has been found to occur in many patients with AIDS and disseminated Valley Fever.

What’s the difference between Valley fever and Covid 19?

COVID-19 causes a more acute illness. Chronic COVID-19 illnesses have not been evident. In contrast, while Valley fever sometimes starts abruptly, it typically continues for weeks to several months before symptoms completely resolve. The primary complication of COVID-19 is respiratory failure.

How can you protect yourself from Valley Fever?

How can I prevent Valley fever?

1. Try to avoid areas with a lot of dust like construction or excavation sites.
2. Stay inside during dust storms and close your windows.
3. Avoid activities that involve close contact to dirt or dust, including yard work, gardening, and digging.
4. Use air filtration measures indoors.

What do Valley fever nodules look like?

Valley Fever can cause rashes that look several different ways. A common presentation is as painful or tender, slightly elevated red nodules or bumps, which may change color to bluish to brown and often occur on the legs, but may occur on the chest, arms and back.

Can valley fever flare up again?

If you’ve already had Valley fever, your immune system will most likely protect you from getting it again. Some people can have the infection come back again (a relapse) after getting better the first time, but this is very rare.