Admin_NHT Staff asked 6 years ago Coccidioides immitis is a fungus which causes coccidiomycosis also known as Valley Fever. It is a respiratory disease characterised by fever, chest pain and other lower respiratory tract infection symptoms. It is an opportunistic fungal infection, which means it does not occur normally in healthy individuals. However, in case of immunosuppression (HIV/ Immunosuppressant drugs/Diabetes, etc), the host is more susceptible. It is acquired by inhaling the spores of the fungus (Normally, the fungus is present in soil) which develop into spherules (multiple spores) and rupture, thus seeding the lungs with the infective foci. It may also lead to lung fibrosis and cavitation in advanced stages. The treatment involves the usage of drugs like fluconazole, itraconazole or systemic antifungals like Amphotericin B.