Valley fever (coccidiomycosis)

January 2007     View PDF
Reprinted from University of Arizona’s Valley Fever Center for Excellence, US

What are the treatments?

Most patients with Valley Fever recover with no treatment and will have life-long immunity. In severe cases, especially in those patients with rapid and extensive primary illness, those who are at risk for dissemination of disease, and those who have disseminated disease, antifungal drug therapy is used. The type of medication used and the duration of drug therapy is determined by the severity of disease and response to the therapy. The medications used include ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole in chronic, mild-to-moderate disease, and amphotericin B, given intravenously or inserted into the spinal fluid, for rapidly progressive disease. Although these treatments are often helpful, evidence of disease may persist and years of treatment may be required.

Surgical removal of cavities in the lung from Valley Fever is sometimes necessary. Surgical drainage of Valley Fever abscesses in bones or joints is also commonly performed.

Risk factors for complications

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What is Valley Fever?