Coccidioides Antibody Blood Test
A Coccidioides Antibody Blood Test is useful in looking for antibodies to the fungus Coccidioides immitis.
Description
Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever or San Joaquin Valley fever, is a fungal infection and is located in Southwestern United States, Central America, and South America. Generally, it is attained by inhaling arthroconidia ( a fungal spore ) of Coccidioides immitis. The fungi are primarily located in the soil in the desert areas.
Acute and Chronic are the two types of Valley Fever.
Symptoms of acute mimic the symptoms of a common cold:
- cough
- loss of appetite
- fever
- shortness of breath
Symptoms of the chronic type are:
- chronic cough
- weight loss
- wheezing
- chest pain
- headache
- blood in coughed up mucus
- muscle aches
