Pediatric Coccidioidomycosis Patients: Perceptions, Quality of Life and Psychosocial Factors.

Erin Gaab,Fouzia Naeem

doi:10.3390/healthcare3030775

Erin Gaab, Fouzia Naeem

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare3030775

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Abstract

Research investigating the effects of coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) on children and the psychosocial implications of this disease in general is lacking. This study reviews what is known about pediatric coccidioidomycosis patients. It documents the psychological functioning, quality of life, and illness perceptions of a sample of coccidioidomycosis patient families. Primary caregivers of pediatric patients and patients from a major hospital in the San Joaquin Valley of California were interviewed regarding their perceptions of disease detection, access to care and the patient/family experience.

Highlights

Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis/posadasii, which is endemic throughout the southwestern United States [1,2], especially in the southern San Joaquin
The study sample consisted of pediatric patients receiving care for coccidioidomycosis at a pediatric hospital in the San Joaquin Valley
The study sample reflected the approximate makeup of the coccidioidomycosis patient population served by a pediatric hospital in the San Joaquin Valley with respect to age, sex and ethnicity

Summary

Introduction

Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides immitis/posadasii, which is endemic throughout the southwestern United States [1,2], especially in the southern San JoaquinValley of Central California [3]. Coccidioidomycosis affects people across the lifespan; the youngest early case reported in an early study was 15 months old and the eldest was 69 years [4]. Healthcare 2015, 3 studied fell into the 10–19-year-old age group. This data may be skewed by a change in the method of detecting coccidioidomycosis. The highest average annual incidence rate has been reported among 45–54-year-olds (14.8 per 100,000) [6], with the lowest incidences in children and those over 85. The lack of complete data and low rates of reported infection in children may be expected to translate into a gap in terms of the provision of comprehensive care to this vulnerable group

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