Coccidioidomycosis overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii.[1] It can be caused by breathing coccidioides spores in the air, especially after a soil disturbance. As per CDC [3] about 30-60 % people living in endemic areas are exposed to the infection sometimes in their lives.
Historical Perspective
Coccidioidomycosis was first discovered for the time in 1892 by, Alejandro Posadas (a medical student) along with his mentor and they grouped coccidioidomycosis under parasitic family. Emmet Rixford and T. Caspar Gilchrist coined the term coccidioidomycosis (resembling Coccidia) in 1896. William Ophüls and Herbert C. Moffitt described its dimorphic nature and defined it as a fungal etiology in 1900. C. immitis was investigated by the United States during the 1950s and 1960s as a potential biological weapon. It was never standardized, around beyond a few field trials, it was never weaponized
Epidemiology and Demographics
California state prisons have been particularly affected by Coccidioidomycosis, as far back as 1919. In 2005 and 2006, the Pleasant Valley State Prison near Coalinga and Avenal State Prison near Avenal on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley had the highest incidence rate in 2005, of at least 3,000 per 100,000.
It is endemic in certain parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and northwestern Mexico.
Risk Factors
On occasion, those particularly susceptible, including pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and those of Asian, Hispanic and African descent, may develop a serious or even fatal illness from valley fever.
Naturall History, Complications and Prognosis
Natural History
Symptomatic infection (40% of cases) usually presents as an influenza-like illness with fever, cough, headaches, rash, and myalgia (muscle pain).[2] Some patients fail to recover and develop chronic pulmonary infection or widespread disseminated infection (affecting meninges, soft tissues, joints, and bone). Severe pulmonary disease may develop in HIV-infected persons.[3]
Complications
Serious complications include severe pneumonia, lung nodules, and disseminated disease, where the fungus spreads throughout the body. The disseminated form of valley fever can devastate the body, causing skin ulcers and abscesses to bone lesions, severe joint pain, heart inflammation, urinary tract problems, meningitis, and death.
Prognosis
The disease can be fatal.
Diagnosis
Symptoms
The disease is usually mild, with flu-like symptoms and rashes.
Laboratory Findings
The fungal infection can be demonstrated by microscopic detection of diagnostic cells in body fluids, exudates, sputum and biopsy-tissue. With specific nucleotide primers C.immitis DNA can be amplified by PCR. It can also be detected in culture by morphological identification or by using molecular probes that hybridize with C.immitis RNA. An indirect demonstration of fungal infection can be achieved also by serologic analysis detecting fungal antigen or host antibody produced against the fungus.
References
- ↑ Walsh TJ, Dixon DM (1996). Spectrum of Mycoses. In: Baron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al, eds.) (4th ed. ed.). Univ of Texas Medical Branch. (via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-9631172-1-1.
- ↑ Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed. ed.). McGraw Hill. pp. pp. 680-83. ISBN 0838585299.
- ↑ Ampel N (2005). "Coccidioidomycosis in persons infected with HIV type 1". Clin Infect Dis. 41 (8): 1174–8. PMID 16163637.