Valley fever not associated with hearing loss

January 2, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My dog, a friend’s dog and three people I know have been diagnosed with valley fever recently. We live in Arizona, a high-risk area for this disease, but it seems odd to have so many friends develop this at the same time. I assume there would be little difference in treatment between canine and human, so I am hoping you can help me with something I have not been able to get an answer for. Would hearing loss (temporary or permanent) be a side effect of either the disease itself or the medication fluconazole? Thanks for any insight you will be able or willing to share.

DEAR READER: Valley fever is caused by a fungus (coccidioides) that is commonly found in the soil of certain areas. When the fungus becomes disturbed — by construction, farming, etc. — it can become airborne. Individuals (or animals) who then breathe in the fungus can then develop valley fever, also known as acute coccidioidomycosis.
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Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: ,

Valley Fever May Be Underdiagnosed

January 4, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
While cleaning out my desk, I came across an envelope addressed to you in 2007. Not remembering what on earth I wrote to you about, I opened it to find a letter and copies of three articles. One was an article you wrote about a woman who had been sick for eight to ten years whom you thought may have had a staph infection. The others were also from my local paper dated 2006 about Valley Fever. I have included the letter in this one and hope that you will print it. It may save lives and will at least inform patients and doctors that this fungal disease is still around. Thank you.

Dear Dr. Gott: I read your column today about the woman who had a decade long illness after her and her husband visited the Tucson, AZ area to see their daughter. You wrote that you thought the mother may have a staph infection. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: ,