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Here's to Your Health:  Valley Fever  |
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sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
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Buffalomary
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
Mary
Caldwell
ID
USA
199 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 13 2009 : 7:57:22 PM
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While I'm not currently in Phoenix, I did live in Tucson for over 20 years! I also work at one of the hospitals in Tucson for over 11 years.
Valley Fever, a.k.a. coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection that most often appears as a respiratory condition but can affect other parts of the body. It is common to the Sonoran Desert region. The fungal spore lives in the dirt and these spores are inhaled when the dirt is disturbed. Not everyone who inhales these spores become sick.
There is information at the CDC wedsite that might help answer some more questions: http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/coccidioidomycosis_gi.html
Some folks can have it and appear to just have the flu while others have a more severe case. One of the problems we ran into was that people thought they had the flu and waited to come in. Others may wonder if they had pneumonia or TB. One way to test for it is similar to a TB skin test.
It is also a disease that will affect animals. One of my neighbors had to give her dog medicine to keep the disease in check.
If our patient had other health concerns, such as heart disease, diabetes, or respiratory disease, they seemed to be more challenged in getting the infection in check. In some ways VF is similar to TB in that it can cause scarring in the lung tissue. However, with proper treatment the majority of the patients recovered with few if any lasting effects. They may require yearly skin tests and/or chest x-rays to ensure the disease is not active.
Does that help? If you any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
Buffalomary
Farmgirl Sister #293
You can take the farmer's daughter off the farm but you can't take the farm out of the farmer's daughter!!
Please visit me at my blog: http://buffalomaryscorner.blogspot.com |
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sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
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Quintessential Kate
True Blue Farmgirl
175 Posts
Kate
Tyler
TX
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2009 : 05:29:01 AM
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I lived in Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tempe for 25 years (1980 to 2005)...(hubby was born in Phoenix and raised between there and So. Cal.) and I never got VF, but my hubby did....but actually had very mild symptoms. He is in construction.....as in grading and paving and we owned a power sweeping business, so he was always in some type of dust. He religiously wore dust mask and ear plugs. Our backyard was our vegetable supply and I was constantly out there "disturbing" the soil....but thankfully never disturbed any spore. I was always under the impression that it was more prevalent in earth that had not been distirbed or stirred up for a very long time. But you know how far the dust can travel during a dust storm!!! In 25 years I knew more dogs who had VF than people. It seemed to be very debilitating for our canine friends......and it was a long treatment period. I hope your daddy responds well to the treatment......and is hale and hearty in no time.
Postscript............I MISS MY CITY OF MOUNTAINS!!!!! I am a Texan......but also a Zonie.....and a bonified Desert Rat!!! It's cold here....I've developed an allergy to cedar, which they call "cedar fever" out here......and I can't understand a lot of people. Don't get me wrong....they're lovely people,I just can't understand them!!! The high yesterday was 40 degrees....and if I'm not mistaken, Phoenix was pushing 80. Waaaahhh, waaaahhhhh,waaaahhhh....I'm envious.
Heart of Texas
Chapter
AKA: Hot Farmgirl #234
http://quintessentialkate.blogspot.com
Today is my best day! |
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sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2009 : 08:46:10 AM
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Thanks Kate for the information. Unfortunately, I don't live in Phoenix. I'm in Wyoming where it is so NOT warm. My mom said it has been really nice down there, though. They live outside of Florence and they bought a place that hadn't been "disturbed" for a long time. They subdivided out there in the middle of nowhere and my dad built their house. This is where he was "disturbing" the earth.
My sister lives in Owatookee (sp?) and my brother lives in Queen Creek. They love it down there. I bet we will eventually move to the area to be closer to family.
I, too love the mountains down there and up here. It would be really hard to live somewhere where there are none. You just get used to their protection, I think.
Anyway, thanks for the input.
Sherone
Independent Avon Representative
http://tinytaylorranch.blujay.com
http://taylorscountrystore.blogspot.com/
http://sheronesgarden.tripod.com/ |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2009 : 1:54:17 PM
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My aunt had it (snowbird...worked at the pioneer museum around that area) and had a heck of a time, but she rode it out. I hope your father feels better soon.
We make a difference. http://huckleberrywine.blogspot.com |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2265 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2265 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2009 : 11:41:01 AM
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Valley fever can run the gamet from mild to life threatening. My father had it; so mild that he didn't know he had it and it only showed up in a blood test much later. My son had it; like the flu with a bad backache. My sister's sixth grade teacher had it; he was in a coma for over six months.
Judith
Happiness is Homemade |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2009 : 8:22:01 PM
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My sister (who lives in Oro Valley near Tuscan) had a cough she couldn't shake and after about 3 monts went in to get it checked out. She was petrified they were going to tell her lung cancer but it turned out to be Valley Fever. If I recall it took her about a year to kick it. She had a cough, was tired all the time and achey. I guess they give you a mega dose of an anti-fungal medication. That was about 3 years ago and she's had no recurrence and feels fine now. Hope your Dad starts feeling better soon.
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
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sherone_13
True Blue Farmgirl
2460 Posts
Sherone
Evanston
WY
USA
2460 Posts |
Posted - Jan 19 2009 : 08:05:33 AM
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Thanks, girls for talking me through this. He's doing well. He's at home now, but is still on lots of steriods and other meds. He is really emotional (not normal for him) but the doc says that has to do with the steriods. His voice has changed through all this. That is kind of a weird side effect. He did say that he is feeling better, so maybe we are on the mend. :)
Sherone
Independent Avon Representative
http://tinytaylorranch.blujay.com
http://taylorscountrystore.blogspot.com/
http://sheronesgarden.tripod.com/ |
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Here's to Your Health: Valley Fever |
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Valley Fever
