Valley fever is the initial form of coccidioidomycosis infection. This initial, acute illness can develop into a more serious disease, including chronic and disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Acute coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) The initial, or acute, form of coccidioidomycosis is often mild, with few or no symptoms. Signs and symptoms occur one to three weeks after exposure. They tend to be similar to flu symptoms. Symptoms can range from minor to severe, including:  Fever Cough Tiredness Shortness of breath Headache Chills Night sweats Joint aches and muscle soreness Red, spotty rash, mainly on lower legs but sometimes on the chest, arms and back  If you don't become ill or have symptoms from valley fever, you may only find out you've been infected later. You may find out when you have a positive skin or blood test or when small areas of residual infection in the lungs (nodules) show up on a routine chest X-ray. The nodules typically don't cause problems, but they can look like cancer on X-rays. If you develop symptoms, especially severe ones, the course of the disease is highly variable. It can take months to fully recover. Fatigue and joint aches can last even longer. The disease's severity depends on several factors, including your overall health and the number of fungus spores you inhale. Chronic coccidioidomycosis If the initial coccidioidomycosis infection doesn't completely resolve, it may progress to a chronic form of pneumonia. This complication is most common in people with weakened immune systems. Signs and symptoms include:  Low-grade fever Weight loss Cough Chest pain Blood-tinged sputum (matter discharged during coughing) Nodules in the lungs  Disseminated coccidioidomycosis The most serious form of the disease, disseminated coccidioidomycosis, is uncommon. It occurs when the infection spreads (disseminates) beyond the lungs to other parts of the body. Most often these parts include the skin, bones, liver, brain, heart, and the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Signs and symptoms of disseminated disease depend on the body parts affected and may include:  Nodules, ulcers and skin lesions that are more serious than the rash that sometimes occurs with initial infection Painful lesions in the skull, spine or other bones Painful, swollen joints, especially in the knees or ankles Meningitis — an infection of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord 
valley fever initial form coccidioidomycosis infection  initial  acute illness can develop disease  including chronic disseminated coccidioidomycosis  acute coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) initial  acute  form coccidioidomycosis mild  symptoms  signs symptoms occur weeks exposure  tend similar flu symptoms  symptoms can range minor severe  including:  fever cough tiredness shortness breath headache chills night sweats joint aches muscle soreness red  spotty rash  mainly lower legs chest  arms back  don't ill symptoms valley fever  may only find you've infected later  may find positive skin blood test small areas residual infection lungs (nodules) show routine chest x-ray  nodules typically don't cause problems  can look like cancer x-rays  develop symptoms  especially severe ones  course disease highly variable  can take months fully recover  fatigue joint aches can last longer  disease's severity depends factors  including health number fungus spores inhale  chronic coccidioidomycosis initial coccidioidomycosis infection doesn't completely resolve  may progress chronic form pneumonia  complication common people weakened immune systems  signs symptoms include:  low-grade fever weight loss cough chest pain blood-tinged sputum (matter discharged coughing) nodules lungs  disseminated coccidioidomycosis form disease  disseminated coccidioidomycosis  uncommon  occurs infection spreads (disseminates) lungs parts body  parts include skin  bones  liver  brain  heart  membranes protect brain spinal cord (meninges)  signs symptoms disseminated disease depend body parts affected may include:  nodules  ulcers skin lesions rash occurs initial infection painful lesions skull  spine bones painful  swollen joints  especially knees ankles meningitis — infection membranes fluid surrounding brain spinal cord 
valley fever