Health

Tourism manager, 33 years old, with back pain and weight loss diagnosed with valley fever


A 33-year-old travel manager with debilitating back pain and unexplained weight loss was finally diagnosed with the life-threatening fungal infection Valley fever is spreading across the United States.

Desiree Chan, who lives in Los Angeles, was struck by the pain when she stepped out of the bath just before New Year’s Eve 2020. She took painkillers but her symptoms did not improve and for a few days afterwards, a dry cough appeared. difficult to speak and she had to battle night sweats that forced her to keep changing her clothes.

Doctors were confused, with tests for pneumonia, tuberculosis, HIV and others all coming back negative. But in the end – during the ten-day trip to the ER – the antibody test came back positive for a fungal infection.

Valley fever is spreading in the United States due to climate change, with the number of cases doubling to 20,000 a year over the past five years. It is caught by breathing in spores from disturbed soil in the American Southwest and Washington, with rural workers most at risk.

Desiree Chan, 33, who lives in Los Angeles, suffered from back pain when she climbed out of the bathtub just before New Year's Eve 2020. It left her bedridden for two days, with doctors prescribing painkillers for her. .

Desiree Chan, 33, who lives in Los Angeles, suffered from back pain when she climbed out of the bathtub just before New Year's Eve 2020. It left her bedridden for two days, with doctors prescribing painkillers for her. .

Desiree Chan, 33, who lives in Los Angeles, suffered from back pain when she climbed out of the bathtub just before New Year’s Eve 2020. It left her bedridden for two days, with doctors prescribing painkillers for her. .

But when her condition didn't improve and then developed a cough, Ms. Chan was rushed to the emergency room.  There, doctors ran countless tests before determining she had Valley fever

But when her condition didn't improve and then developed a cough, Ms. Chan was rushed to the emergency room.  There, doctors ran countless tests before determining she had Valley fever

But when her condition didn’t improve and then developed a cough, Ms. Chan was rushed to the emergency room. There, doctors ran countless tests before determining she had Valley fever

Chan said she was given medication to fight the infection, but it left her feeling weak and tired, meaning she was unable to return to work.

Chan said she was given medication to fight the infection, but it left her feeling weak and tired, meaning she was unable to return to work.

Chan said she was given medication to fight the infection, but it left her feeling weak and tired, meaning she was unable to return to work.

It took until mid-May 2021 for her to start feeling better.  At this time, her partner Lucas Marton, 34 (pictured above with Chan) proposed marriage

It took until mid-May 2021 for her to start feeling better.  At this time, her partner Lucas Marton, 34 (pictured above with Chan) proposed marriage

It took until mid-May 2021 for her to start feeling better. At this time, her partner Lucas Marton, 34 (pictured above with Chan) proposed marriage

Most cases of Valley fever are mild, and patients with symptoms resolve within a few weeks.

But up to 1 in 10 people infected with this disease – caused by the fungus Coccidioides – turns into a severe stage and takes months to recover. At this point, nodules form in the lungs and the patient experiences chest pain, weight loss, and fever.

In rare cases, a fungal infection can be fatal.

People with weakened immune systems, have diabetes who are pregnant, or are of black or Filipino descent are most at risk.

What is Valley Fever?

Valley fever – also known as coccidioidomycosis – is caused when a soil fungus is inhaled after the soil is disturbed.

In affected areas, the possibility of hot, dry weather conditions and fungus-carrying dust is more common.

Most infections are mild and clear up on their own within a few days or weeks.

But 5 to 10 percent of cases become severe and take months to recover.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, headaches, night sweats, and weight loss in the early stages.

Figures show that about 20,000 Americans are now suffering from the disease each year, double the number five years ago.

Those most at risk include those who work outside in areas where the fungus is naturally occurring.

There is no cure for Valley fever which can be fatal in rare cases, instead, doctors focus on early detection to treat the disease.

There is no cure, instead, treatment relies on early diagnosis to quickly limit symptoms. An infected patient cannot pass the fungus on to others.

Chan told Insider that the illness started a year and a half ago when pain pierced her neck and back on New Year’s Eve as she climbed out of the tub.

Six days later, it developed into a dry cough and pain spread throughout her body.

Describing her symptoms, she said: ‘It felt like an elephant was stepping on my chest.’

Initially, doctors thought she had intermittent back pain and gave her painkillers, but switched to cough medicine when other symptoms appeared.

But after her condition didn’t improve, they sent her for an X-ray which discovered small nodules inside her lungs – leading them to suspect pneumonia.

She was then admitted to the Emergency Room for ten days, where doctors ran a series of tests.

But swabs for TB, HIV, Legionnaires’, Covid, and several other fungal infections all tested negative. Confused, at one point doctors even considered a lung biopsy to check for cancer.

In the end, however, an antibody test was performed for Valley fever – the result was positive.

She was then given a heavy dose of the antifungal fluconazole to fight the infection, to be given until November 2021.

But Chan says they lost her appetite, left her mentally disturbed and forced her to take a few months off work.

It took another six months before she started to feel better.

She said: ‘It wasn’t until mid-May of this year that I started to feel like I regained my strength and felt my mind clear. “

But that’s when her partner, Lucas Marton, 34, proposed.

Chan doesn’t know how she contracted the disease, though it was contracted by disturbed soil and breathing in the sores.

She revealed her diagnosis and experience to raise disaese awareness.

Pairs are pictured together.  Now they are engaged, after her battle with the disease

Pairs are pictured together.  Now they are engaged, after her battle with the disease

Pairs are pictured together. Now they are engaged, after her battle with the disease

Valley fever is widespread in the United States and caused 20,000 cases last year, more than double the number recorded five years ago (Fungus Photo)

Valley fever is widespread in the United States and caused 20,000 cases last year, more than double the number recorded five years ago (Fungus Photo)

Valley fever is widespread in the United States and caused 20,000 cases last year, more than double the number recorded five years ago (Fungus Photo)

It has been recorded throughout the Southwestern United States and in Washington.  It is captured by breathing in the spores that are released when the soil is disturbed

It has been recorded throughout the Southwestern United States and in Washington.  It is captured by breathing in the spores that are released when the soil is disturbed

It has been recorded throughout the Southwestern United States and in Washington. It is captured by breathing in the spores that are released when the soil is disturbed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says people in areas with Valley fever should avoid breathing dust.

Staying indoors during dust storms, avoiding gardening and digging, and using an indoor air filtration system are other ways to avoid illness.

Surveillance shows that about 20,000 people contract the disease each year, although most cases are mild.

But experts warn many cases may go undiagnosed because doctors lack awareness, meaning they don’t test for the disease.

Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk




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