Coccidioidin sensitivity in San Diego schools

San Diego is located within the geographic distribution of known occurrence of Coccidioides immitis contamination of the soil. Forty-five to fifty-five cases are diagnosed in San Diego hospitals each year. Skin tests were administered to one thousand and twenty-seven ninth grade students in five selected San Diego schools. Coccidioidin 1:100 was administered by Mantoux technique, intradermally. Induration was measured at forty-eight hours. Greater than 5 mm of induration was noted in 9.7% of students tested. Among 378 students who had been lifelong residents of San Diego County, 7% had greater than 5 mm of induration. Coccidioidomycosis is endemic in San Diego but the level of endemicity is rather modest.