Disseminated coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection that spreads through the bloodstream and involves many organs.

Coccidioidomycosis - systemic

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by breathing in spores from the fungi Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii. These fungi are found in the soil in certain parts of the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central and South America.

The following increase your risk of disseminated coccidioidomycosis:

• Diabetes
• A suppressed immune system (immunosuppression), such as that caused by HIV infection or AIDS
• Pregnancy
• Medicines that weaken your immune system, including steroids, TNF-inhibitors, and chemotherapy drugs
• Lymphoma

Images

Fungus

Disseminated coccidioidomycosis

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Coccidioidomycosis Symptoms

Review Date: 08/28/2009
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, 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)