Facts about coccidioidomycosis:
- A fungus, called Coccidioides immitis, causes this infection. It is a soil fungus that lives in dry conditions.
- This fungus is present in Arizona, south central California, Nevada, New Mexico, and the western half of Texas.
- The fungus is inhaled during exposure to dust, after which it causes a lung infection.
- Most lung infections resolve without treatment; however, the infection can worsen in about 1 out of 20 of those who are infected. The worsening infection can cause pneumonia and the fungus can spread to other tissues.
