A 40-year-old female presents with high fever, cough, and pleuritic chest pain. She recently returned from a trip to Arizona. On physical examination, there is decreased breath sound on the right side of the chest. What are your considerations and next steps?
Given her recent travel history to Arizona, coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) could be a potential cause of her pneumonia-like symptoms. This fungal infection is endemic in the southwestern United States. The next steps should include a chest X-ray to confirm pneumonia and serological testing for Coccidioides immitis. Depending on the severity of the disease and the patient's immune status, antifungal treatment may be necessary.