Is it possible to get encephalits with Valley Fever?

[Gemini116]

My sister is currently suffering with Valley Fever. She has been diagnosed with disemenated VF. I am very concerned as she told me she now has encephalitis, is this possible or would it be more likely to be meningitis?
Gail, that is my sisters name, was going to Quartzite Arizona for the past two years as a Snowbird. She has been sick for over 1 year with symtoms that started as severe fatique and respiratory problems to encephalitis, pain in her hands and back and more fatique. At times she can not get out of bed. I forgot to mention that she was told in the beginning that she had lung cancer, however it turned out to be the Valley Fever fungi that had attached itself to her aorta.
Gail and her husband live in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Since going to Arizona she has encountered a numerous amount of people that have become quite sick or even passed on due to being in that region.
I am trying in every way to get the word out to our Snowbirds and to people that I know that are going to these places where they can come in contact with VF, to not go if they have been sick or have a compromised immune system.
I have also tried to get our television news to do an article or segment on it to warn people that there is such a thing and to be aware.
I am not trying to scare anyone but on the other hand I feel that they have the right to know and to decide if it is ok to be in California, Arizona or Texas. Can you help me.

Sandy


This discussion is related to Valley Fever.

[cozycappy]

I was told I had VF in July 2008.  I live only 45 min. from the Mayo Clinic.
Do you think it would be wise to start going their instead of seeing my Dr. here,that I am not sure how good he is.

[james330]

Hi
Valley Fever has been rampant in AZ for decades.  It has increased in the past few years because of all the building that is going on.  The spores are found in virgin desert soil.  I had valley fever 6 years ago and it took me over a year to recover.  I now have a 2" by 1" scar on my lung and have a letter from my pulmonologist to show if I ever have to have a chest xray as people tend to freak out when they see the scar.  When I moved here 11 years ago there was no info on valley fever.  Now the Mayo clinic has set up a special valley fever unit, so you can see how bad it has become here.  Hope your sister/friend gets better.  Yes, also it can cause meningitis if it gets outside the lungs.  I am not a doctor, just someone who got themselves informed on the subject after having been so sick