Symptoms & Signs
About 60% of infections get better without ever causing symptoms. In the remaining 40% of infections, symptoms range from mild (cold-like or flu-like) to severe (pneumonia).
In less than 1% of infections, the fungus spreads from the lungs through the bloodstream to involve the skin, bones, joints, lymph nodes, and central nervous system or other organs.
If they occur, symptoms may include:
- Chest pain (varies from mild to severe)
- Chills
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint stiffness
- Lymph node swelling
- Muscle aches
- Muscle stiffness
- Night sweats
- Rash, may be painful, red lumps, on lower legs (erythema nodosum)
- Sputum or phlegm
- Weight loss
See also:
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Skin lesion of coccidioidomycosis
Diagnosis & Tests
- Biopsy of lymph node or lung (often done with bronchoscopy)
- Blood test for antibodies to the fungus
- Bronchoscopy with lavage
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Sputum smear (KOH test or Papanicolaou stain)
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Coccidioidomycosis – acute pulmonary : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Coccidioidomycosis – acute pulmonary : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
-
Coccidioidomycosis – acute pulmonary : Treatment
Review Date : 9/17/2008
Reviewed By : David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
