Coccidiomycosis, also known as San Joaquin Valley fever, is a fungal infection that occurs in desert climates, such as in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The fungus is found in the soil. It is difficult to diagnose because it has no specific symptoms. In mild cases it does not involve any treatment and, almost always, can be cured by taking antifungal drugs. Learn about coccidiomycosis so you can get the necessary treatment.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Get Medical Treatment
Step 1. Consult a specialist
If you have been diagnosed with coccidiomycosis, your doctor can recommend a specialist who treats this type of infection. He will urge you to see a specialist doctor, especially if you have a severe form of coccidiomycosis or if you have contracted it in the past and it is relapsing.
Step 2. Take an antifungal medication
There are no over-the-counter medications for the treatment of coccidiomycosis. See your doctor if you experience severe symptoms or have had a relapse. Usually, to treat the infection, taking antifungal drugs is prescribed for a period of 3-6 months, depending on the severity of the complications.
- Your doctor may give you ketoconazole, itraconazole, or fluconazole. In severe cases, intravenous amphotericin B is also envisaged.
- If other conditions, such as meningitis, develop as a result of coccidiomycosis, you will likely need to take antifungal medications for the rest of your life.
Step 3. Treat associated pathologies
Sometimes coccidiomycosis leads to more serious health problems, especially if the immune system is quite weak. In fact, it can promote the development of lung infections, such as pneumonia, or systemically widespread infections.
- In these cases, the doctor may recommend hospitalization so that the patient can continue the antifungal therapy and, at the same time, treat the concomitant diseases.
- For more serious complications, treatment could last more than six months.
Step 4. Undergo surgery
In severe cases, hospitalization may be required to manage the complications caused by coccidiomycosis through certain surgical procedures. For example, if the lungs have been severely damaged, it is possible to surgically remove the cavity lesions that have formed within these organs.
- If arthritis and joint inflammation caused by coccidiomycosis worsen, drainage of fluid or abscesses that have spread to the bone surgically may be required.
- In case of osteomyelitis, the need may arise to undergo surgical removal of infected tissues.
Part 2 of 3: Using Natural Remedies to Treat Coccidiomycosis
Step 1. Treat flu-like symptoms
Usually, to get rid of this infection, you need to treat flu-like symptoms. The main treatment is to take a long rest. Most of the time, coccidiomycosis is not aggressive. It can come in the form of a mild cold or a mild flu, so a little quiet and rest is all you need. At the same time, it is necessary to drink a lot to replenish lost fluids. It often goes away on its own.
- Rest helps the body fight infection. Stay home to give your body time to recover.
- Coccidiomycosis is not contagious, so don't be afraid to pass it on to people you meet at work or school.
Step 2. Follow an antifungal diet
A diet that creates an environment that inhibits fungal growth can help you kill the fungus that is causing the infection. Therefore, you should significantly reduce your consumption of dairy products, sugars, beer, and foods that contain yeast. These foods promote the growth and reproduction of the fungus within the body.
- Avoid milk, cheese, and yogurt when treating coccidiomycosis. Eliminate sugars, including those in honey, fruit, or fruit juices.
- Limit your consumption of beer and other foods or drinks that contain yeast.
- Eat unprocessed foods and cook any dishes during the cure.
Step 3. Take the supplements
Another way to naturally eradicate the coccidiomycosis fungus is to take supplements. Try taking various vitamins, such as C, E, B vitamins and A plus, to help build an environment within the body that inhibits fungal growth. Turmeric is a common antifungal that helps the body kill these organisms. Garlic also has antifungal properties. Used in the kitchen or in the form of a supplement, it helps to defeat the fungus.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium supplements can help the body restore the health of the intestinal flora.
- Also try aloe vera, basil, cinnamon, cloves, magnesium, manganese, oregano, thyme, wheat germ, and zinc. They have antifungal properties that can promote healing.
Step 4. Use natural remedies with caution
Always be cautious when using natural remedies to treat coccidiomycosis. You should consult your doctor or naturopath before choosing a herbal solution instead of medicines. Generally, coccidiomycosis is not very aggressive and responds well to natural treatments, but some people may experience more severe symptoms or experience a worsening of the infection.
In severe cases or in the presence of a compromised immune system, it is always advisable to consult your doctor
Part 3 of 3: Diagnosing Coccidiomycosis
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms
If you have this infection, you may develop flu-like symptoms. The most common ones include fever, chills, breathing difficulties, and night sweats. You may also have a dry or bloody cough, suffer from headaches, and feel exhausted.
- Your joints or bones may also start to ache, as if you have arthritis.
- There is a possibility of rashes appearing in the form of painful red growths on the lower legs, but also on the chest, arms or buttocks. The color varies from red to brown and the tip may resemble that of pimples or blisters.
- Many times, no symptoms appear.
Step 2. Get a diagnosis
To diagnose this infection, it is good to visit a doctor. Symptoms are nonspecific, which means that it is difficult to recognize the onset of coccidiomycosis from symptoms alone. Your doctor will prescribe various tests to identify with certainty the presence of the fungus inside the body.
Your doctor will direct you to both a culture and blood tests. This way, it can diagnose whether your body is harboring the fungus
Step 3. Identify the places where the infection is highest
It is possible to contract coccidiomycosis in arid and desert areas of North and South America, that is, in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Both the inhabitants and the visitors are exposed to the risk of contracting the fungus.
- Working in contact with the ground or subsoil increases the risk of contracting the infection exponentially.
- The risk is also high when engaging in recreational and sports activities in contact with the ground or with dust rising from the ground, such as cycling or ATV racing.
Step 4. Recognize who is most at risk of contracting severe forms of coccidiomycosis
In most cases it is an infection that does not pose a health hazard. However, in some people it could lead to much more serious illness or even become fatal. The most exposed categories are made up of individuals who have a weak immune system or those who are already sick.
- These are HIV-positive patients, pregnant women, diabetics, and people who take drugs that help weaken the immune system.
- Some ethnicities are also at higher risk, such as Filipinos, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans.
