Medically reviewed by Dr. Kiyan Rad, DO — Medical Director, Sanova Urgent Care, Tucson, AZ

You’ve had a nagging cough for three weeks. You’re wiped out by mid-afternoon. Maybe there’s a low fever, or some night sweats. You’ve already blamed a summer cold and Tucson’s dust — but it just won’t shake. If that sounds familiar, there’s a third possibility every Tucsonan should know about: Valley Fever. Here in the Sonoran Desert, it’s far more common than most newcomers realize, and telling it apart from a cold or dust allergies often requires a quick test you can’t get over a video call.

Why Tucson Is Valley Fever Country

Valley Fever — medically known as coccidioidomycosis — is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides, a fungus that lives in the desert soil right here in Southern Arizona. According to the CDC, the majority of U.S. cases occur in Arizona — roughly 52% nationwide in a recent year.

You can’t catch Valley Fever from another person. You get it by breathing in microscopic fungal spores stirred up from disturbed soil — and Tucson offers no shortage of opportunities:

• Spring and early-summer winds that lift dust off open desert
• Monsoon haboobs — the dramatic dust storms that roll across the valley from July into September
• Construction and landscaping across fast-growing Oro Valley, Rancho Vistoso, and SaddleBrooke
• Desert hiking and recreation on dusty trails like Pima Canyon, Sabino Canyon, and Catalina State Park

Cases often climb after dry, windy stretches and around monsoon season — exactly when many people assume their symptoms are “just allergies.”

Summer Cold vs. Dust Allergies vs. Valley Fever

The three overlap, which is why so many Tucsonans guess wrong. Here’s how they typically differ.

A Summer Cold

Caused by a virus. Expect a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, and mild cough. The hallmark is timing: colds usually improve within 7–10 days.

Dust Storm Allergies

Triggered by airborne dust and pollen — common during Arizona dust storms. Think itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and an irritated throat. Allergy symptoms tend to flare with exposure and ease when the air clears or with antihistamines. They generally don’t cause fever.

Valley Fever

A fungal lung infection. Symptoms often appear 1 to 3 weeks after exposure and can mimic the flu or pneumonia. The biggest tell: Valley Fever is persistent. A cough and deep fatigue that drag on for weeks — especially with fever or night sweats — point away from a simple cold or allergies.

Key takeaway: If your “summer cold” hasn’t improved after two to three weeks, it’s time to get checked — not to wait it out.

Valley Fever Symptoms to Watch For

Many people with Valley Fever have mild symptoms, or none at all. When symptoms do appear, the Mayo Clinic notes they commonly include:

• Fatigue — often profound and lasting
• Cough, sometimes with chest pain
• Fever and night sweats
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• A red, spotty rash, often on the lower legs

For most people, Valley Fever resolves on its own over a few months. But the only way to know what you’re dealing with — and to rule out pneumonia — is testing.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Anyone breathing Tucson air can get Valley Fever, but certain groups face a higher risk of severe illness: adults over 60 — a large share of the SaddleBrooke, Sun City, and Oro Valley communities — along with people who are pregnant, those with diabetes, and anyone with a weakened immune system. For these patients, prompt testing matters even more. If you’re an older adult with a lingering cough, don’t dismiss it.

How to Test for Valley Fever

This is where a Tucson urgent care has a real advantage over a telehealth visit. A doctor on a video screen cannot take a chest X-ray or draw blood — and Valley Fever diagnosis depends on both:

• A Valley Fever blood test (titer): a lab test that looks for antibodies your body makes against the Coccidioides fungus. Antibodies may take a few weeks to show up, so timing and follow-up matter.
• A chest X-ray: imaging that checks your lungs for the pneumonia-like changes Valley Fever can cause.

Together, these tests give you a definitive answer — instead of weeks of guessing.

When to Visit Sanova Urgent Care for Valley Fever Testing

Walk into Sanova Urgent Care on Oracle Road if you have:

• A cough or fatigue that has lasted longer than two to three weeks
• A “summer cold” that keeps getting worse instead of better
• Fever, night sweats, or chest pain along with a cough
• Shortness of breath or an unexplained skin rash
• Lingering symptoms and you’re an older adult, pregnant, diabetic, or immunocompromised

Our Tucson clinic has on-site digital X-rays and rapid lab testing, so we can evaluate your lungs and order Valley Fever bloodwork in a single visit — and get you a real answer. No appointment is needed, wait times are typically under 15 minutes, and a visit costs a fraction of the ER.

Sanova Urgent Care — 15883 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85739. Open Monday–Saturday, 7 AM–7 PM. Call (520) 232-2525 or get directions here. Stop guessing about that cough — walk right in for a chest X-ray and lab testing.

Seek emergency care if you have severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, or coughing up blood — call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

Medical disclaimer: This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition. In an emergency, call 911.

Serving North Tucson, Oro Valley, SaddleBrooke, Catalina, Rancho Vistoso, Sun City, Oracle, Mammoth, and San Manuel.

Is Valley Fever contagious?

No, Valley Fever is entirely non-contagious. You cannot catch it from coughing, sneezing, or being in close contact with someone who is infected, nor can you catch it from pets. The only way to contract the illness is by breathing in the microscopic Coccidioides fungal spores directly from the dusty desert air.

Can Valley Fever go away on its own?

Yes, but it requires patience. For many healthy individuals, mild cases of Valley Fever will eventually clear up on their own with plenty of rest, hydration, and over-the-counter symptom management. However, the fatigue and coughing can drag on for weeks or even months. For older adults, pregnant women, or those with weakened immune systems, the infection can become severe and requires prescription antifungal medication to prevent the fungus from spreading beyond the lungs. Because symptoms mimic pneumonia or COVID-19, it is always best to get a professional diagnosis rather than guessing.

Does urgent care treat Valley Fever?

Absolutely. Walk-in clinics like Sanova Urgent Care are the perfect first stop if you suspect you have Valley Fever. Because we have on-site digital X-rays, our providers can immediately check your lungs for the nodules or inflammation typically caused by the fungus. We also perform the necessary blood draws (titers) to confirm the presence of Valley Fever antibodies. If your test is positive, we can prescribe the appropriate antifungal medications and get you on the road to recovery without the long wait times of an emergency room.