Climate change is expected to increase the spread of the fungus that causes Valley Fever, as it thrives in dry soil.Photo:Getty Images
Getty Images
“As the temperatures warm up, and the western half of the U.S. stays quite dry, our desert-like soils will kind of expand and these drier conditions could allow coccidioides to live in new places,” Morgan Gorris, who led theGeoHealthstudy while at the University of California, Irvine, toldNBC News.
The symptoms of Valley Fever are similar to the flu or pneumonia, often leading to it being under-diagnosed.Getty Images
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
And while the most recent CDC data puts Valley Fever cases at just over 20,000 a year, “tens of thousands more illnesses are likely to occur and may be misdiagnosed because many patients are not tested for Valley Fever.”
That’s because Valley Fever’s symptoms mimic the flu or pneumonia, according to theMayo Clinic. Fever, cough, tiredness, shortness of breath, headache and chills are all symptoms — although some may develop a red, spotty rash.
The spores may also cause nodules on the lungs, which can resemble cancer in an X-ray. If ruptured, these nodules may require surgery to repair the damage.
While most people recover from Valley Fever, if the fungal infection spreads, the Mayo Clinic notes that “it can cause problems including skin ulcers, abscesses, bone lesions, severe joint pain, heart inflammation, urinary tract problems and meningitis — a potentially fatal infection of the membranes and fluid covering the brain and spinal cord.”
And whileantifungal medicationscan help, “all antifungals can have serious side effects,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
Preventive measures include wearing a mask when outdoors, avoiding dust storms, and wetting soil before digging in it — especially for people more prone to serious side effects from Valley Fever.
According tothe CDC, those at higher risk of complications include people with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and those who are Black or of Filipino descent.
“I think they’re really the ones that are going to be problematic over the next decade," he said. “And Valley Fever is going to be a key part of that,”
“They are really here to stay. This battle is sort of just beginning.”
source: people.com
