In the past decade, state-specific increases in the number of reported cases of coccidioidomycosis have been observed in areas of California and Arizona where the disease is endemic. Although most coccidioidomycosis is asymptomatic or mild, infection can lead to severe pulmonary or disseminated disease requiring hospitalization and costly disease management.

To determine the epidemiology of cases and toll of coccidioidomycosis-associated hospitalizations in California, researchers reviewed hospital discharge data for 2000-2011. During this period, initial hospitalization rates were higher for men than women, African Americans and Hispanics than Whites, and older persons than younger persons. In California, the increasing health- and cost-related effects of coccidioidomycosis-associated hospitalizations are a major public health challenge. This study used data from the 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 California Health Interview Surveys.