Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis is infection caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcus occurs primarily in soil that is contaminated with pigeon droppings. The fungus is present around the world, but infection was relatively rare until the AIDS epidemic began. The fungus sometimes infects people with Hodgkin lymphoma or sarcoidosis and those who are receiving long-term corticosteroid treatment. However, cryptococcosis can also develop in people with a normal immune system.

Cryptococcosis occurs mainly in the following:

·         Tissues covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges), resulting in meningitis

·         Lungs

·         Skin

Other organs are sometimes involved.

Symptoms

Cryptococcosis usually causes mild and vague symptoms. Other symptoms occur depending on where the infection is:

·         Meningitis: Headache and confusion

·         Lung infection: No symptoms in some people, a cough or an aching chest in others, and, if the infection is severe, difficulty breathing

·         Skin infection: A rash, consisting of bumps (sometimes filled with pus) or open sores

                                                                       

Treatment

People with a functioning immune system who have Cryptococcus in only a small part of their lungs usually do not require any treatment. However, people with a lung infection are often treated with fluconazole
DIFULCAN: given by mouth to shorten the duration of their illness. For meningitis,amphotericinB

 ANCOBON: are given intravenously

FUNGIZONE:given intravenously. People with a weakened immune system may be given fluconazole