Valley fever

Talking to a doctor about Valley fever

Talking to a Doctor about Valley Fever

Valley fever symptoms can take 1 to 3 weeks to appear after breathing in the fungus from dust in outdoor air. These symptoms can often be mistaken for other illnesses (like COVID-19 or flu) and will likely last several weeks. The only way to find out if you have Valley fever is to see a doctor. Special laboratory tests are needed to know whether symptoms are caused by Valley fever (which is caused by a fungus) or COVID-19 or flu (caused by viruses). Talk to a healthcare provider about testing to learn if symptoms could be Valley fever or another illness.

Preview of Valley fever worksheet

Could These Symptoms Be Valley Fever? (PDF)

A worksheet for patients to complete and share with their doctor or healthcare provider

This worksheet can help you keep track of important information about your symptoms and any places you’ve been where Valley fever is common.

Sharing this with your doctor or healthcare provider can help when talking about Valley fever and deciding if you need testing.

When you talk to a doctor or healthcare provider, be sure to tell them if:

You have had any of the following symptoms for more than 7-10 days: cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue (exhaustion), fever, chest pain, night sweats, muscle or joint pain, rash, headaches, or unexplained weight loss
You have lived, worked, gone to school, or traveled in areas where Valley fever is common in the weeks or months before getting sick