Possible Complications of Valley Fever
It is quite uncommon to have complications from valley fever. Only 1% of those who notice symptoms develop into a more severe case. Some possible complimclude:
- Fluid or pus in your lungs (pleural effusion)
- Pneumonia [5]
- Ruptured pocket of air or fluid in your lungs (hydropneumothorax)
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [6]
- Spread of disease outside the lungs
Disseminated (Extrapulmonary) Coccidioidomycosis
When the fungus spreads outside of your lungs, it is one of the most dangerous side effects of valley fever. Your skin, bones, joints, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and brain can all get affected by it. You can have coccidioidal meningitis, a potentially fatal infection, if coccidioidomycosis spreads to your brain. Coccidioidal meningitis signs and symptoms include:
- headaches
- changes in hearing
- blurry vision
- light sensitivity
- a stiff neck
- confusion