Cryptococcal Meningitis and Its Optimal Antifungal Therapy

Abstract

Cryptococcal meningitis is the major life threatening opportunistic infection and is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Severe headache and with or without fever is the characteristic feature in patients with cryptococcal meningitis. Headache is seen in > 75% while Fever is seen in only 65% of the patients. For the diagnosis of cryptococcal infection neuroimaging of the brain, India ink, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is considered. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis who’s cryptococcal antigen testing was positive and India ink examination showed the cells resembling cryptococcus and he was treated with antifungal drugs mainly the combination therapy showed better outcome.\n\nKey words: Cryptococcal meningitis, Amphotericin B, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).