Coccidioidomycosis
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Synonym(s)
Desert Fever, Desert Rheumatism, San Joaquin Valley Fever, Valley Fever
An infection caused by breathing in spores of the fungi Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii. The infection starts in the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body, including the skin, brain, bones, and heart. In people with HIV, disseminated (extrapulmonary) coccidioidomycosis is an AIDS-defining condition.