How Coccidioidomycosis Is Treated
The treatment you receive for Valley fever will vary depending on how severe it is. If you have mild symptoms, you may not require any medication.
If you have a more serious case or have certain risk factors, you may be treated with antifungal medications. Your treatment may last for several months and the length will vary depending on how well your body responds to the treatment. More severe cases may require hospitalization and intravenous (IV) antifungal medication. In patients with depressed immune systems or with disease outside the lung (disseminated), lifelong treatment may be required. In very few individuals, surgery may be required to remove portions of infected or damaged lung tissue.
Managing Coccidioidomycosis
Most patients recovering from Valley fever should be able to return to their everyday work and activity levels though it is also important to get plenty of rest and allow your body time to fight the infection. The disease is not contagious, meaning you can’t spread it to someone else. Lingering or worsening symptoms should be brought to your healthcare provider’s attention right away. Some symptoms may continue for months or years. Fatigue, joint pain and weakness are three symptoms that have been found to last longer in some people. This can impact your ability to complete your everyday tasks.
If you have any of the following symptoms it is important to get medical assistance right away:
- Blood in your saliva
- Stiff neck
- Trouble breathing
- Vision or hearing changes
If your condition is more severe, you should stay in close contact with your provider and receive follow-up blood testing and lung imaging, such as chest X-rays or CT scans, for at least the first year. This will ensure that if you do develop chronic or disseminate infections, they are caught and treated immediately. If your provider thinks you need additional medical attention, they may refer you to a pulmonary or infectious disease specialist, although this is less likely to happen in regions where the primary care provider is familiar with the disease.
Recovering from a Severe Lung Infection
Prevention
Valley fever can be hard to avoid in areas where the fungus lives. You can take these steps to help reduce your exposure to Coccidioides fungus.
- Avoid areas that have a lot of dust such as construction sites
- Stay indoors during dust storms
- Wear a fitted N95 mask if you are in an area where Coccidioides grow and you may be exposed
- Wet the soil before gardening to avoid fungal spores from entering the air
- Clean skin injuries with soap and water
- Use an air filtration system indoors
Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.
Page last updated: January 6, 2026
