Coccidioidomycosis

C. immitis resides in the soil in certain parts of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and a few other areas in the Western Hemisphere. Infection is caused by inhalation of airborne, fungal particles. The disease is not transmitted from person to person.

Symptomatic infection (40% of cases) usually presents as an influenza-like illness with fever, cough, headaches, rash, and myalgias. 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.