Acute pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores of Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii, fungi found in the soil in certain parts of the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central and South America.

See also:

• Coccidioidomycosis
• Disseminated coccidioidomycosis
• Skin lesion of coccidioidomycosis

Coccidioides infection begins in the lungs after a person breathes in the spores.

Those who are at higher risk of developing more serious Coccidioides infection include:

• People of Native American, African, or Philippine descent
• Those with weakened immune systems due to AIDS, diabetes, or medications that suppress the immune system

Occasionally the infection may develop into a long-term (chronic) lung disease or can reactivate after a long latent period.

Traveling to an area where these fungi are found is a risk for coccidioidal infection. Areas in the U.S. include southwestern New Mexico, Arizona, California (especially the San Joaquin Valley), and western Texas.

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Fungus

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Coccidioidomycosis Symptoms

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)