Medical Minutes: Understanding valley fever
Andrea Turisk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As monsoon season winds down and Arizona’s desert soil begins to dry out, another risk rises.
Valley fever, the serious respiratory illness, is caused by a fungus that lives in our soil and becomes airborne when the ground is disturbed.
Dr. Donald Hubbard, Medical Director and Emergency Medicine Physician at Exceptional Community Hospital, says a lot of valley fever symptoms resemble COVID-19 symptoms.
“COVID was real and it made people sick and it was deadly, but it’s mutated and it’s not nearly as serious as it was. So now, you get sick, fever, feel bad, no energy, you’re probably going to be better within a week. With Valley fever, it doesn’t get better. You just stay sick until you’re treated,” he said.
Dr. Hubbard shares what you should do if you feel you may have valley fever.
“Talk with your doctor if you’re having trouble breathing, either go to an urgent care and emergency room, discuss the symptoms with the doctor. People kind of make fun of or make jokes about is Doctor Google. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It’s always good to be educated,” he explained.