Archive · 26 Aug 2026
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.
Doctors say a persistent cough can have causes beyond colds, flu, or pneumonia.
In parts of the United States, the cough may be linked to Valley fever.
Valley fever, also called coccidioidomycosis, is caused by the Coccidioides fungus.
People develop the infection after breathing in microscopic fungal spores from soil.
Dr. John Galgiani says Valley fever can be overlooked because its symptoms resemble other illnesses.
- Who
- Doctors and Dr. John Galgiani, a University of Arizona College of Medicine professor and Valley Fever Center for Excellence director.
- What
- A warning that a persistent cough may be associated with Valley fever, a fungal infection.
- Where
- Parts of the United States.
- Why
- People can develop the infection by breathing in microscopic Coccidioides spores from soil, while its symptoms may resemble other illnesses.
- Condition
- Valley fever, also called coccidioidomycosis
- Cause
- The Coccidioides fungus
- Source
- Soil containing microscopic fungal spores
- Transmission
- People become infected after breathing in the spores
- Key symptom
- A persistent cough
- Expert
- Dr. John Galgiani
- Why it may be missed
- Its symptoms can resemble several other illnesses