Key points
- Many people who are exposed to Coccidioides do not get Valley fever.
- Valley fever is a fungal lung infection and causes symptoms of pneumonia.
- Symptoms usually last for a few weeks to a few months.
- Rarely, Valley fever can cause severe lung infections or infections throughout the body.
Symptoms
If your symptoms last for more than a week, contact your healthcare provider.
Symptoms include:
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Cough
- Fever and headache
- Shortness of breath
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Rash on upper body or legs
In extremely rare cases, the fungal spores can enter the skin through a cut, wound, or splinter and cause an infection.
Symptoms timing
Symptoms of Valley fever may appear between 1 and 3 weeks after a person breathes in the fungal spores.
Symptoms usually last for a few weeks to a few months. However, some patients have symptoms that last longer than this, especially if the infection becomes severe.
Severe Valley fever
Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs. In an even smaller percent of people (about 1%), the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body. This could include the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, or bones and joints.