Coccidioidomycosis in Arizona: Increase in incidence from 1990 to 1995

The number of cases of coccidioidomycosis (incidence) reported to the Arizo na Department of Health Services increased from 255 (7.0 per 100,000 popula tion) in 1990 to 623 (14.9 per 100,000 population) in 1995 (P <.001). Four counties in the south central region of the state, which contained 80% of t he state's population, had the largest increase and accounted for 95% of al l cases in 1995. Cases in persons aged 65 years or older and men were repor ted more frequently (for both, P < .001). During 1995, 890 patients were di scharged from Arizona hospitals with a diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. Rat es of hospitalization were greater among persons aged 55 years or older, me n, and African-Americans (for all three, P < .01). Of the hospitalized pati ents, 48 died, and 12 (25%) of these patients had a concurrent diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection. These data demonstrate that coccid ioidomycosis is a growing health problem in Arizona.