Expert Warns Persistent Cough May Signal Soil-Borne Valley Fever

A cough that lasts a long time is usually linked to illnesses such as a cold, flu, or pneumonia.

But in some parts of the United States, it can have another cause.

A fungus called Coccidioides lives in soil.

People can become infected when they breathe in tiny spores from the fungus.

This infection is called Valley fever.

Its medical name is coccidioidomycosis.

Dr. John Galgiani says doctors may miss it because its symptoms can look like those of other illnesses.

This means Valley fever may not be the first cause people think about when they have a persistent cough.