Coccidioidomycosis natural history
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: ; Vidit Bhargava, M.B.B.S [2]
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Overview
Coccidioidomycosis is usually a self-limited mild clinical illness. A large proportion of individuals are clinically infected without any manifestations and are thus completely asymptomatic. The remaining develop a mild pulmonary illness which in most cases is self limited requiring no treatment, and even those cases which do require treatment have an excellent prognosis. It is often misdiagnosed as community-acquired pneumonia. There are several cutaneous manifestations such as erythema multiforme and erythema nodosum, it may even cause arthritis and arthralgias. In a few cases, the clinical picture may be complicated due to widespread dissemination of the organism leading to a number of complications.
Complications
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis is a serious complication that is more likely if you have a weakened immune system due to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, cancer, chemotherapy, diabetes, glucocorticoid medications (prednisone), heart-lung (cardiopulmonary) conditions, HIV, organ transplants (and associated medicates), pregnancy (especially the first trimester).[1][2]
Complications of coccidioidomycosis include:
- Pleural effusion
- Return of the infection (relapse
- Meningitis
- Pulmonary cavities, that may rupture leading to pyopneumothroax, otherwise causing persistent cough, hemoptysis, and pleuritic chest pain.
- Synovitis and Osteomyelitis.
Medications used to treat this infection may also cause side effects, including fever, chills, and nausea.