Telugu Man Dies In US Due To Valley Fever
According to the GoFundMe page, started by his cousin, Chiranjeevi first developed flu-like symptoms in early April. As his health deteriorated, he visited the emergency room, where doctors believed he had severe pneumonia.
Hyderabad: Chiranjeevi Kolla, 37, A Telugu man living in the United States, has died after battling valley fever for nearly a month. He died May 5 at a hospital in California after his condition worsened rapidly.
Chiranjeevi was working with a private firm as a lead engineer in California, and was also a senior member of the technical staff. A GoFundMe page, started to support his family, has raised more than $1,80,000.
According to the GoFundMe page, started by his cousin, Chiranjeevi first developed flu-like symptoms in early April. As his health deteriorated, he visited the emergency room, where doctors believed he had severe pneumonia. Later tests confirmed that he was suffering from valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling spores found in soil and dust in parts of the American Southwest, including California.
Valley fever, medically known as coccidioidomycosis, affects thousands of people in the US every year. The coccidioides fungal spores are found in the soil of the southwestern US, particularly Arizona and California. While many recover with mild symptoms, severe cases can lead to life-threatening complications, especially when diagnosis is delayed.