La Manzanilla.info Message Board Archives

Valley Fever

Posted by Jesse Connor on March 23, 2014, 3:09 pm
187.148.168.241

Last year , after returning from my annual winter stay in La Manzanilla I had an event that still perplexes me as to it's origen . In May I was hospitalized for 5 days after becoming very ill at my home in California . I was in extreme pain and highly jaundiced when admitted , and many of the normal tests came up with nothing . X-rays and a MRI revealed a problem in my gall bladder , but at the same time revealed a mass in the bottom of my right lung above my liver . They went in and corrected the gall stones then sending me off to Stanford to diagnose the mass in my lungs . Understandably lung cancer was suspected as they performed a procedure to get a sample of the mass for biopsy . The good news was I had no lung cancer , but the diagnostic outcome revealed that I had a colony of fungus spores taking up residence in my lung and growing , called progressive desiminated Histoplasmosis , a form of Valley Fever which is air-borne when dust is stirred up. Valley Fever is currently in the farming communities of western farming states , the type that I have is called Ohio River Valley Fever and only contacted there . It is spred by the droppings of birds and bats in that State . Stanford was perplexed , as no one in California has contacted that form from California . I offered the possibility that I may have contacted it from migratory birds while I was in Mexico.
My diagnosis revealed that it was in my lymph nodes and my blood stream and more than likely is the reason I had problems with my gall bladder and liver . The reason I'm bringing this up is because in a casual conversation with another resident here , I was told that there were more people here with these symptoms , and I would like to discuss the effects that this fungus has had on me over the last year .
The best cure is a strong immune system coupled with anti-fungus drugs . For those with a weak immune system , this form of Valley Fever left untreated can be deadly . It takes anywhere from a year to three years to get rid of it , and it is monitored by lung x-rays . If anyone is aware of someone else's diagnosis , please inform me .
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by mark on March 23, 2014, 4:05 pm, in reply to "Valley Fever"
64.118.110.119

This is an interesting but alarming post, Jesse. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I found this about Valley Fever:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccidioidomycosis
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Histoplasmosis

Posted by mark on March 23, 2014, 4:22 pm, in reply to "Valley Fever"
64.118.110.119

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histoplasmosis
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by paco on March 24, 2014, 10:31 am, in reply to "Valley Fever"
187.146.140.219

just think: could it be the great sewer system we have here that {DOES NOT WORK !!!!!????} what happens to all the human shi; that comes up from the manholes? turns into dust during the dry season and we breathe it. it's a wonder we living here don't have the same problem.u don't have to be jack klugman in the tv show quincy md. to figure this one out. only my thought on the subject but I'm betting I'm correcto. adios and remember too always breathe deeeeeply. paco
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Jesse Connor on March 24, 2014, 5:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
187.148.168.241

I remember Steve Rutherford expressing the same sentiment years ago , there could be a lot to what you're saying . Poor Steve isn't here anymore to agree.
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Kim on March 24, 2014, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
198.144.53.21

Every year there is a lot of people that end up with some kind of respiratory infection after being in La Manz. for a while.
Last year our Doc. from Melaque said he always has more people from La Manz. with respiratory problems than any other town and thought it was from all the dust and pollution.
I think it was a few years back Sharon got some kind of infection that had to do with fungus and had to fly home and she was hospitalized in Canada. Maybe if she reads this she will shed so light on what it was that caused the problem.
Anyhow this year again a lot of us had a respiratory problem with the coughing/phlegm and even a rash that would appear all over the body.
Everyone seems to think it is just a flu brought in from people coming and going.
Interesting article from Mark.
Paco is probably onto something with his theory also.

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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Mark on March 25, 2014, 8:04 am, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
170.170.59.139

Those who know me know that I have campaigned vociferously for better sanitiation in La Manzanilla over the last ten years. Thankfully, numerous blackwater offenders have connected to the municipal sewer system so there are fewer places in town where you find blackwater coursing and puddling in the street (I could still point out a few). Also, the bypass from the lift station was ordered sealed off by SEMARNAT a few years back, so the mangrove does not suffer as it used to. But when the system is backed up we have all seen the "fountains" of sewer water spouting from the manhole covers. I have returned north from La Manzanilla on various occassions with inexplicable rashes, cuts that don't heal normally, cough, and eye infections. Sharing close space with so many dogs, chickens, goats, pigs, horses, birds and bats also needs to be considered when assessing your health risks in La Manzanilla. Below find more info on leptospirosis, Weil's Disease, and allergic alveolitis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypersensitivity_pneumonitis

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/26/weils-disease-andy-holmes


http://www.restorationsos.com/education/sewage-backup/the-hazards-of-sewage-backup.asp
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Ross and Sharon on March 25, 2014, 8:13 am, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
187.146.142.197

My fungus in the lungs was never diagnosed as to where it came from. The guess was aspirilligus(sp?). It is a common fungus found everywhere, even on our skin. Ross suspects that I inhaled it at the hospital where I was being treated for an ashma attack and the vaporizer machine maybe wasn't clean? I think I may have picked it up from a trip to Patzcuaro. Wherever it came from it almost killed me. Dr. Zuniga in Autlan diagnosed it finally and the drug I took killed the fungus and then compromized my immune system and heart, too powerful a drug and is banned in Canada. I ended up in hospital in Canada for a month and then a long slow recovery at home. I am now terrified to go near areas of LM where I suspect there to be shi.. dust. This cannot be good for anybody!!!

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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Jesse Connor on March 26, 2014, 7:38 am, in reply to "Valley Fever"
187.148.168.241

Thanks Sharon for the phone call . It helped me with many of my questions
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Dave on March 28, 2014, 6:35 am, in reply to "Valley Fever"
198.144.53.21

Bump
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Larry F on March 28, 2014, 8:06 am, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
187.148.141.81

This is a disconcerting but good discussion. My question is - did the confirmed cases all coincide with the street paving? Or is there a continuing risk of infection?

Given the number of foreigners infected, there must be many more Mexicans who have been. Assuming that there is, would not some health authority be willing to test the air in La Manzanilla? There may be a way to get rid of the offending dust. For example, the fine silt on the main street could be washed away after the rainy season is done.

A few years back there was concern about grey water being used to wet the streets. Should this still be a concern?

Maybe a job for the new delegado?
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by mark on March 28, 2014, 7:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
64.118.110.119

Larry- The risk of inhaling airborne pathogens is not unique to La Manzanilla, though sanitation factors in town do certainly increase your exposure. Aspiration of bacterial, viral, fungal and particulate toxins is a realistic risk anywhere in the world. Maintaining a strong immune system is the best defense, through diet and exercise. I also take zinc, calcium/magnesium, and potassium iodide daily. I am a plumber, so suffer a greater likelihood than many to be exposed to some of these pathogens. When I work on sewage systems I wear, at a minimum, a particle mask, gloves and a protective suit. In enclosed areas I wear a respirator. If I am confronted with a blackwater spill I use a biodigestive enzyme spray to treat the affected area. In a pinch I scatter hydrated lime over the area, but calcium hydroxide is caustic so the powder itself can cause lung and eye irritation. Over time, sanitation in La Manzanilla has, and will continue to improve. We cannot assume that visitors who have contracted coccidiodomycosis, histoplasmosis, leptospirosis, COPD, hepatitis, cholera, typhoid fever or teburculosis were exposed in La Manzanilla. Recognizing the odor and trace signs of blackwater and avoiding those places is key. Avoid chicken and pig farms. Stay away from dusty construction sites. Stay out of the old broken hotel on the beach. And don't be afraid to wear a mask.
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by jean on March 28, 2014, 8:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
187.146.132.69

COPD...isn't that where the elephant follows you around??? Just thinking about the ad..
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by mark on March 28, 2014, 8:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
64.118.110.119

Sufferers of COPD say their illness makes them feel "as if an elephant were sitting on their chest". COPD kills 2.4 million Americans every year. COPD kills more American women each year than breast cancer and diabetes combined. COPD is the third greatest killer of Americans each year.
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by jean on March 28, 2014, 9:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
187.146.135.37

could never figure out the advert, now I get it!!
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by bocabob on March 30, 2014, 12:21 pm, in reply to "Valley Fever"
24.5.149.183

I would like to go on record and state my lung problems are totally self inflicted combined with exposer to high altitude radiation for 25 years of commercial flying. No La Mannzanilla dust here.
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by Jesse Connor on March 30, 2014, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
24.10.6.193

Thanks to all for the information that you have offered , and it looks like no one else has had the type of Valley Fever I have . I feel assured that mine was a case of being in the right place at the wrong time to get it . Lung contamination is a concern, but also an assumed risk like anything else . I'll take it , along with all the fantastic experiences and friends I have .
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Re: Valley Fever

Posted by bocabob on March 30, 2014, 1:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Valley Fever"
24.5.149.183

you are a good man Jesse.....my hero in lots of ways!
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