UCSF Fresno wants to improve diagnosing Valley Fever

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Valley Fever affects thousands of Californians each year.

"Valley Fever is simply a precise analyzable and analyzable disease," said Dr. Geetha Sivasubramania, the Division Chief of Infectious Diseases astatine UCSF Fresno. "It's not arsenic elemental arsenic pneumonia, and radical who enactment retired successful the fields get it. It's not that simple. It is an endemic corruption successful this portion of the country."

In 2024, authorities wellness leaders reported much than 12,700 cases of Valley Fever. Dr. Sivasubramanian says she's seen a fig of patients diagnosed with the unwellness successful the past fewer months.

Data from the California Department of Public Health breaks down the fig of cases successful Central California.

In Fresno County, determination person been 763 cases. Tulare County has seen 518. Merced County confirmed 148 cases truthful far, portion Madera County saw 70 cases arsenic of past month.

"In 60% of folks, it does not origin immoderate problems. It's a precise mild infection. It mimics flu and pneumonia, and it goes away," said Dr. Sivasubramania. "But successful the different 40%, it tin spell connected to origin a much symptomatic infection. In astir 10%-15%, it tin spell extracurricular of the lungs and spell to different parts of the body."

That's wherefore doctors astatine UCSF Fresno are researching ways to amended Valley Fever diagnosis. Dr. Sivasubramanian wants to code the barriers and challenges, similar wherever patients tin get tested.

"We privation to spell retired and rise consciousness among physicians, urgent attraction doctors," said Dr. Sivasubramania. "In this portion of the country, if you person idiosyncratic coming successful with pneumonia oregon bronchitis oregon a cough that's not going away, you person to trial for Valley Fever."

While prevention and acquisition are besides portion of the effort, Dr. Sivasubramanian says investigating is key.

"We bash person a mates of studies ongoing close now, immoderate newer technologies," said Dr. Sivasubramania. "PCR-based methods that we are trying to get backing and get this investigating started astatine UCSF Fresno."

Dr. Sivasubramania explains her imaginativeness and goal.

"We privation to unify each of these patients successful 1 place," said Dr. Sivasubramania. "If you person a trial for Valley Fever done and you don't cognize wherever to nonstop them, nonstop them to us."

By breaking the barriers, doctors judge this tin assistance prevention galore lives successful the future.

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