A 37-year-old Indian tech professional living in California died after battling Valley fever, a rare fungal infection that severely affected his lungs and eventually caused respiratory failure.
Chiranjeevi Kolla passed away on May 5 after spending nearly a month in intensive care, according to a fundraiser set up by his family.
What is Valley Fever?
Valley fever, medically known as coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection caused by the Coccidioides fungus, which is commonly found in soil, particularly in the dry and dusty regions of the southwestern United States, including parts of California and Arizona.
People can contract the infection by inhaling fungal spores that become airborne when soil is disturbed by activities such as strong winds, farming or construction work.
According to reports, Chiranjeevi Kolla initially developed flu-like symptoms, including fever and cough.
As his health deteriorated, doctors first suspected pneumonia before further tests confirmed Valley fever. The infection later severely damaged his lungs, leading to his admission to the ICU, where he was placed on ventilator support.
Flu-Like Symptoms Often Delay Diagnosis
Many people infected with Valley fever may not develop any symptoms and often recover without medical treatment.
However, in certain cases – particularly among individuals with weakened immunity or pre-existing health conditions – the infection can turn serious and spread beyond the lungs.
Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Persistent cough
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle or joint pain
Since these symptoms closely resemble those of flu or pneumonia, the disease is often difficult to identify in its early stages.
Doctors say moderate to severe cases of Valley fever are treated with antifungal medications, although recovery may take several months in some patients.
Serious infections can result in complications affecting the lungs and may even lead to respiratory failure.
The disease is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another. It is primarily associated with exposure to contaminated soil in certain parts of the United States.
How Is Valley Fever Diagnosed and Treated?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Valley fever is typically diagnosed through blood tests that identify antibodies produced against the fungus.
In certain cases, doctors may also rely on chest X-rays, CT scans, sputum analysis or lung tissue biopsies to confirm the infection.
Most mild cases recover naturally within a few weeks or months. However, patients with severe lung involvement or infections that spread to other parts of the body are usually treated with antifungal drugs such as Fluconazole.
Serious infections often require hospitalisation and prolonged treatment lasting more than six months.
Chiranjeevi Kolla is survived by his wife and five-year-old son. His death has also brought renewed attention to a disease that remains relatively unknown to many people outside the United States.