Fatigue in coccidioidomycosis. Quantification and correlation with clinical, immunological, and nutritional factors

Med Mycol. 2006 Nov;44(7):585-90. doi: 10.1080/13693780600794533.

Abstract

While described in the past, the frequency and degree of fatigue associated with symptomatic coccidioidomycosis has never been quantified. Using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), severe fatigue (FSS score = 41) was found in 65% of cases of active coccidioidomycosis compared to 42% in cohort of control subjects with chronic medical diseases (P=0.024). Fatigue in patients with symptomatic coccidioidomycosis declined significantly over four months (P=0.023). Severe fatigue in patients with symptomatic coccidioidomycosis was significantly associated with low body mass index (BMI; P=0.024) but was not significantly associated with either serum leptin (r2=0.078, P=0.261) or serum TNF-alpha (r2=0.028, P=0.504) concentrations. Severe fatigue is a common condition among patients with active coccidioidomycosis and is associated with a declining BMI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Body Mass Index
  • Coccidioidomycosis / immunology
  • Coccidioidomycosis / physiopathology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Fatigue / blood*
  • Fatigue / etiology*
  • Fatigue / immunology
  • Fatigue / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutritional Requirements
  • Prospective Studies
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / analysis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha