These may go away after a few weeks and then reappear. Some people, especially children, develop a red, blotchy rash on the palms, soles of the feet , and folds in the groin. If later complications develop, these may include low appetite and weight loss, blood in saliva, skin sores, and pain in the bones and joints, similar to that of arthritis . Symptoms your physician may observe A physician will want to test bodily fluids for signs of the fungus. If the fungus succeeds in spreading out of the lungs , however, it may cause serious illness requiring hospitalization.
Medicines known to kill fungal spores are also toxic to humans, making treatment difficult.
Stages and progress The first symptoms seem like flu symptoms and often go away without developing into anything else. For a person who lives in or has recently visited the Southwest or dry regions on the West Coast, Central America, or South America, if the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it may be valley fever . See your physician for a definite diagnosis. Pregnant women or people with ineffective immune systems should report flulike symptoms as soon as they occur. Furthermore, pregnant women are at risk of serious complications from the disease.