Most people who get Valley fever never experience any symptoms. About 40% of people will experience symptoms, which may appear between one to four weeks after they breathe in the fungal spores. Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Night sweats
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Rash on upper body or legs
In extremely rare cases, the fungal spores can enter the skin through a cut, wound, or splinter and cause a skin infection.
Duration of symptoms
Symptoms of Valley fever can often last for a few weeks to a few months.
- Between 5% and 10% of people with Valley fever develop serious or long-term problems in their lungs.
- People with disseminated infection can have symptoms lasting much longer. About 1% of people have disseminated Valley fever, which occurs when the infection disseminates, or spreads, to other parts of the body, such as the skin, bones, joints, and/or brain. Disseminated Valley fever typically requires life-long medication.
- Some people may have symptoms that go away without any treatment.
If symptoms last for more than a week, a healthcare provider should be contacted.