Coccidioidomycosis

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection caused by <i>Coccidioides immitis</i> and <i>C. posadasii</i>, which is endemic to the Southwestern United States, Central America, South America and Mexico, and is acquired by inhalation of the infective arthroconidia, often found in soil. In most cases it is a benign, self-limiting febrile illness, but in a minority of cases it can become a potentially lethal infection of the lungs and, extremely rarely, spread to other organs (through hematogenous dissemination) with manifestations including meningitis, osteomyelitis, and skin and soft-tissue involvement.