Valley Fever - A Rare Fungal Infection of US Desert Regions.
Serving patients in the Phoenix community, Murali Macherla, MD, works at Arizona Chest and Vascular Surgeons, PLLC. Knowledgeable about various Thoracic ailments, Murali Macherla, MD, has treated valley fever with lung lesions also known as coccidioidomycosis, this fungal infection is most common in Southwest desert regions.
Caused by inhalation of fungal particles into the lungs, the disease is associated with soil disruptions due to wind, agriculture, and construction work. Once the cocci spores are in the lungs, they expand into spherules, or multi-cellular structures. These grow and burst, which in turn releases endospores that begin the reproductive cycle again.
Rare and not contagious, valley fever typically manifests as manageable fatigue and flu-like symptoms within three weeks of contraction. However, a small percentage of patients may develop debilitating infections that spread to the skin, bones, and brain. Should it reach the brain, the condition is known as meningeal infection and may necessitate antifungal treatment to avoid risk of fatal outcome. Lung Complications of this dreaded infection will require Surgical intervention.












