Treatment
Antifungal medications are used to treat this disease. Treating any immune system problem (such as AIDS) and limiting the use of medications that suppress the immune system (such as steroids or chemotherapy) can help the body fight the coccidioidomycosis infection. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the infected part of the lung.
Prognosis (Expectations)
With treatment the outcome is usually good, although the disease can come back. Some patients, such as those with immune system problems (from AIDS or drugs that suppress the immune system) may need to keep taking antifungal medication to prevent a relapse.
Complications
- Pleural effusion
- Relapse of infection
- Disseminated coccidioidomycosis
- Coccidioidomycosis meningitis
- Arthritis
- Rash
- Empyema
- Pneumonia
- Bronchopleural fistula
- Lung scarring (fibrosis)
- Lung cavities
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
- Coccidioidomycosis symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment
- You have new symptoms
Review Date : 12/1/2009
Reviewed By : David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
