Do I need to be tested for Valley fever?
Usually, Valley fever is diagnosed using a blood test, but the lab test for COVID-19 uses a respiratory sample from your nose or throat. Not everyone needs to be tested or treated for Valley fever. People who do get sick with Valley fever may have symptoms like cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and fatigue that go away without any treatment.
Is there any over-the-counter medication for Valley fever?
People who do get sick with Valley fever may have symptoms like cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and fatigue that go away without any treatment. If you have symptoms of Valley fever that last longer than a week, talk to a doctor or healthcare provider. There are no over-the-counter medications to treat Valley fever.
Can you get Valley fever more than once?
Usually not. If you’ve already had Valley fever, your immune system will most likely protect you from getting it again. Some people can have the infection come back again (a relapse) after getting better the first time, but this is very rare. Can my pets get Valley fever? Yes.
What medical conditions disqualify you from Medicare supplement?
When you have an illness that requires treatment forever, you’ll see that there are questions on many Medicare Supplement applications that can exclude you. Immune deficiency disorders like MS, RS, AIDS, or Lupus. If you have osteoporosis and fractures, this could be problematic.
Is Valley fever a reportable disease?
Valley fever is reportable in certain states. State health departments collect information about cases of Valley fever and then send the information to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). Weekly and annual data are available on the NNDSS website.
Will I always test positive for Valley fever?
The titer that is reported to your physician is the last positive dilution. While positive serological results almost always mean that a patient has Valley Fever, a third or more of patients with Valley Fever may actually have negative results. Therefore, it may be necessary to repeat the serologic test periodically.
Does Valley fever cause compromised immune system?
In rare cases, valley fever can spread to the skin, bones, lymph nodes, and organs. It can lead to meningitis, a very serious infection of the coverings around the brain and spinal cord. The disease is more likely to spread to other areas of the body in people who have weak immune systems.
How Long Does Valley fever stay in your system?
The symptoms of Valley fever 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. Approximately 5 to 10% of people who get Valley fever will develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs.
Does Valley fever show up on xray?
The changes in bones and joints due to Valley Fever can be seen on x-rays and in CT-scans of the affected body part. Meningitis is the most serious and lethal complication of disseminated disease.
Which drug is commonly used to treat Valley fever?
The antifungal drugs fluconazole (Diflucan) or itraconazole (Sporanox, Onmel, Tolsura) are generally used for all but the most serious forms of coccidioidomycosis disease.
What does valley fever do to the lungs?
Most people struck with Valley Fever recover on their own. Some patients, like Pierce, develop lung nodules, which are small patches of infection in the lungs that can be mistaken for lung cancer. For Pierce, antifungal medications taken for a year helped him recover from the infection.
Can Valley Fever affect your heart?
Disseminated valley fever It happens when the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. It can affect many organs, and particularly the skin, liver, brain, bones, meninges, and heart.
What types of complications may occur with Valley Fever?
ComplicationsSevere pneumonia. Most people recover from coccidioidomycosis-related pneumonia without complications. ... Ruptured lung nodules. A small percentage of people develop thin-walled nodules (cavities) in their lungs. ... Disseminated disease.
What time of year is Valley fever worse?
Valley Fever typically peaks in late fall and early winter with a minor peak from June to August (refer to the 2007-2011 Valley Fever Report). Those who've been in Arizona for a while may know that Valley Fever is a lung infection caused by a fungus that is common in the soil here.
Can Valley fever flare up again?
Some people can have the infection come back again (a relapse) after getting better the first time, but this is very rare.
Does Valley fever cause shortness of breath?
Valley fever is the result of breathing fungal spores of coccidioides and can cause a fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and rash. (The symptoms closely resemble the flu or a bad cold.)
How many people are infected with Valley Fever?
Valley Fever is an epidemic, estimated to infect 3% of the population in the most endemic areas of the United States each year. Annually, this means hundreds of thousands of people are infected even before one accounts for tourism, visitors, and America’s less endemic areas.
Why is San Joaquin Valley Fever named?
While San Joaquin Valley Fever is named as much for its location as the fever it can produce, the human body’s heat is still very stable. If someone chooses to drink cold water the body will just burn slightly more calories to maintain an even body temperature.
What is the name of the disease that causes a fever in the desert?
Valley Fever is the common name for coccidioidomycosis, an incurable, devastating, and deadly parasitic systemic fungal disease. It is also known as San Joaquin Valley Fever, Desert Fever, Desert Rheumatism, and other names. The biohazard that causes this airborne disease is a fungal parasite from the species Coccidioides.
What blood test is used for Valley fever?
There are a variety of blood tests for Valley Fever, the most useful of which is a Complement Fixation titer. A titer is a blood test that checks to see if your body is producing antibodies to VF. Titer tests are often negative months after the first Valley Fever symptoms have appeared, even in chronic cases.
What to do if your doctor refuses to listen to you?
If your doctor refuses to listen to you or to look at new information, we suggest you may wish to find another physician. A doctor’s ego is not as important as your health. Also, when shopping for new doctors, be sure to ask the staff any questions you may have.
Where is Valley Fever most prevalent in Arizona?
Historically, Arizona had 65% of America’s diagnosed Valley Fever cases, primarily in Maricopa and Pima Counties (Phoenix and Tucson) — where the bulk of Arizona’s population lives. Infection rates are also particularly high in Kern County and other parts of California. Bakersfield has been considered “hyperendemic.”.
Where is Valley Fever found?
The fungus that causes Valley Fever is found in the United States in Arizona and California primarily, but also in Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Southeast Washington State and possibly parts of Oregon. See our Map and History Page.
How old do you have to be to get Valley Fever?
Valley Fever can affect people of any age, but it’s most common in adults ages 60 and older.
Why is Valley Fever misdiagnosed?
Valley Fever can be misdiagnosed because its symptoms are similar to other illnesses. Valley Fever is also called coccidioidomycosis. If you live or work in Bakersfield, Kern County or the Central Valley, you are at risk for Valley Fever.
How many people with Valley fever miss school?
Nearly 75 percent of the people with Valley Fever miss school or work. Injured Workers who miss work are entitled to receive total temporary disability benefits. As many as 40 percent of the people with Valley Fever need to stay in the hospital. Workers’ Compensation pays for medical treatment.
What are the symptoms of Valley Fever?
Other people may have flu-like symptoms, including: fatigue (tiredness), Cough, Fever, Shortness of breath, Headache, Night sweats, Muscle aches or joint pain, and Rash on upper body or legs.
Where is Valley Fever found?
Per the CDC, the fungus that causes Valley Fever, Coccidioides, is found in the southwestern United States, parts of Mexico and Central America, and parts of South America. The fungus has also been found in south-central Washington State.
Is Valley Fever industrial?
Yes. Industrial causation of Valley Fever mainly deals with the nature of extent of injured worker’s exposure to the fungus in the work environment. There are a number of reported cases in which Valley Fever was found to be industrial. These include Asr Constr. v.
Can you file a claim for Valley fever?
Evaluation and treatment would be done to your employer on an industrial basis. If an Injured Worker believes that the Valley Fever may be work-related, it is strongly recommended that the worker file a claim form with his or her employer.
How is Valley Fever acquired?
Valley Fever is acquired by inhaling one or more airborne spores of the fungus coccidioides spp. The spores are carried in dust particles from the soil by the wind when the desert soil is disturbed.
What animals are susceptible to Valley Fever?
Various domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and horses as well as wild animals are also susceptible.
Can Valley fever cause respiratory failure?
While Valley fever can result in respiratory failure in rare cases, the infection can also spread to other parts of the body, causing destruction in bones, skin, the brain or elsewhere.
Is Valley Fever seasonal?
The risk for Valley fever is ever-present with seasonal fluctuations each year. As COVID-19 hopefully declines over the coming months, the number of Valley fever cases are expected to increase into the summer. COVID-19 causes a more acute illness. Chronic COVID-19 illnesses have not been evident.
Can you get Valley fever from a human?
NO! Valley Fever is contracted only by the inhalation of the fungal spores. Valley Fever is NOT spread from human to human, or animal to animal, or animal to human or human to animal. The spores change form in tissues of the body and are not contagious in tissue form.
Can you cross react with a cocci test?
No. The tuberculosis and Valley Fever skin tests do not cross react. The presence of tuberculosis will not cause a positive cocci skin test nor will the presence of Valley Fever cause a positive tubercul in test.
What conditions disqualify you from military service?
The following conditions may disqualify you from military service: a. Diseases of the jaw or associated tissues that are not easily remediable, and will incapacitate the individual or otherwise prevent the satisfactory performance of duty.
What happens if you don't get a waiver for military?
Remember that if you do not get an official waiver and your condition later is discovered, you most likely will be dishonorably discharged for fraudulent enlistment. The choice is yours.
Do you need to answer questions about your health to qualify for new coverage?
In many states, you need to answer questions about your health and get through underwriting to qualify for new coverage. While medical underwriting can cause some stress, many individuals successfully pass under writing and change coverage annually, so don’t worry. Let’s dive into information about the situations typically resulting in approval.
Does Medigap require a supplement policy?
Oregon and California allow beneficiaries to change their supplement policy within the birthday month with no supplement underwriting. This does require that you have a supplement policy currently active to qualify. Talk to your agent; they can get quotes to check if a lower rate exists.
Can you keep your Medicare coverage if you have a chronic illness?
Keep Your Coverage if you have a Chronic, Incurable Condition. There are plenty of health issues that can be treated but are still considered incurable illnesses. When you have an illness that requires treatment forever, you’ll see that there are questions on many Medicare Supplement applications that can exclude you.
Can you change your insurance if you have diabetes?
If you only have diabetes and no related conditions, you should be able to change carriers.
Is Medicare Supplement underwriting required?
Medicare Supplement underwriting questions aren’t always mandatory. Sometimes, like during your Open Enrollment Period, you receive a waiver for health question requirements. If you’re changing a Medigap plan or miss your OEP, underwriting is likely a must.
What Is Coccidioidomycosis?
Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is a rare fungal infection caused by coccidioides organisms that live in the soil. These organisms are kicked up into the air by wind, farming, or construction where people can breathe the fungal spores into their lungs.
Applying for SS Benefits for Coccidioidomycosis
Generally, the acute and chronic forms of coccidioidomycosis are not considered serious enough to make a patient eligible for SS benefits. However, disseminated coccidioidomycosis is listed in the SSA's “Blue Book” Listing of Impairments for patients with preexisting HIV or AIDs.
If You Need Help Applying for SS
Applying for SS benefits for any illness can be daunting—but it may be particularly challenging when the condition you have is rare. Don't waste valuable time trying to work through the SSA's lengthy and complex application process on your own when an experienced disability attorney can be there to guide you.