Published Jun 26, 2005

Are you thinking of a summer internship in or temporary relocation to Arizona? Think twice, it’s dangerous. Interns and others who choose to temporarily relocate to Arizona, or any of the other Western desert states may find themselves catching Valley Fever. I think I did! Your temporary relocation to, or internship in, Arizona could feature the substantial downsiede of weeks of coughs, fatigue, and worse.

I’m exaggerating, of course. Valley Fever’s not that dangerous. But I am a little bummed out — I got a nasty cold in Brazil, finally got rid of the leftover cough, and, suddenly, after a nice little wind and storm, apparently my lungs are filled with fungus, and I have a cough that won’t quit. My roommate, who’s worked around healthcare for quite a while, thinks it’s Valley Fever. Valley Fever is very common in Phoenix, and is usually non-serious — many people don’t even develop symptoms. But, last year, 24 people died of Valley Fever in the Phoenix area, and in the above-linked AZCentral article, there’s the story of a woman whose spine bones were eaten away by the fungus! That’s scary.

So that nice, productive cough is one symptom, and it’s not so bad except for being annoying and for making people stand several feet away from me since they think I have TB or something. Another symptom is, apparently, swelling within the joints, which explains why my plantar fasciitis has unexpectedly come back. Ouch! However, I’m sure I look stylin’ in my white-and-purple running shoes that provide so much support and that fit my orthotics with space to spare. Also, fortunately, it’s too hot to walk much.

To be clear, I don’t hate Phoenix at all. I just find this, and the requirement that interns or temporary workers in Arizona become residents, to be particularly amusing.

(Edited 6/27 to actually make sense, gain English-language compliance)