Most symptomatic coccidioidal infections are mild to severe episodes of pneumonia caused by Coccidioides species.
Extrapulmonary infection in sites such as skin, soft tissue, or skeletal or central nervous system occurs infrequently.
Common symptoms include fever, headache, dry cough, myalgia, and arthralgia, and may be accompanied by a rash.
Treatment ranges from close observation without medical treatment in mild cases, to medical therapy, primarily with azole antifungals in more severe episodes.
Azole antifungal therapy is generally well tolerated, with few adverse events; alternative treatments are rarely required.
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the endemic fungus Coccidioides species and is acquired through inhalation of airborne arthrospores within the endemic areas of the southwest US, northern Mexico, and limited areas of Central and South America. Both humans and animals may become infected. Coccidioidomycosis may be asymptomatic or can cause acute and chronic pulmonary syndromes and, rarely, extrapulmonary infection. No human-to-human transmission of infection occurs.