No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal*

Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a relatively well-recognized complication of bacterial meningitis, but is a rare initial manifestation in acute cryptococcal meningitis. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis initially presenting with bilateral SNHL. Cryptococcal meningitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of abrupt-onset bilateral SNHL.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal*

Cryptococcal meningitis is rare but, often fatal complication of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). It is difficult to differentiate cryptococcal meningitis from neuropsychiatric lupus due to similarity of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF). Earlier diagnosis and effective antifungal therapy improve the prognosis of cryptococcal meningitis in SLE patients. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in a patients with SLE who had been medicated with low dose steroid.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal* ; Prognosis

A clinical analysis was carried out in 38 patients with cryptococcal meningitis who were admitted at Severance hospital from January 1983 to June 1993. Age of patients ranged from 3 to 72 years (mean 37.5). The number of patients with underlying disease were 19(50%), which are equal to the number of patients without associated disease. The major presenting symptoms were headache in 36 patients (95%), fever in 26 patients(68%), nausea and vomiting in 20 patients(53%) in that order. The brain imaging findings were abnormal in 21 patients(57%). The antifungal therapy was done; amphotericin B only in 3 patients; amphotericin B and flucytocine in 23 patients; fluconazole only in 5 patients. The therapeutic responses were good in 19 patients(50%). The patients with favorable outcome were younger less having focal deficit, seizure, or associated disease.
Amphotericin B ; Diagnosis* ; Fever ; Fluconazole ; Headache ; Humans ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal* ; Nausea ; Neuroimaging ; Seizures ; Vomiting

The clinical picture and CSF findings in cryptococcal meningitis may be identical with those of tuberculous meningitis. The differential diagnosis can be made by finding the budding yeast organism in the counting chamber of in stained smear, the detection of cryptococcal antigen in CSF by the latex agglutination test, and by culture of the fungus on Sabouraud agar. We experienced a case of cryptococcal meningitis in the 48 years old woman, which was confirmed by Indian ink preparation and culture.
Agar ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Ink ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal* ; Saccharomycetales ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal

Cranial Sinuses ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; diagnosis

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is the standard treatment for hydrocephalus; shunt-associated infection is the most common complication after surgery. However, fungal infections are unusual. We present a case of cryptococcal meningitis complicated by a brain abscess and an infected intra-abdominal pseudocyst that developed 14 weeks after VP shunt insertion to treat hydrocephalus in a 74-year-old patient. Cryptococcal central nervous system (CNS) infection has a high mortality rate; however, diagnosis is challenging. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are required when a cryptococcal CNS infection is suspected in patients with VP shunts.
Aged ; Brain Abscess ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Cryptococcus ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; Mortality ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Deafness ; Hearing Loss/etiology* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal/diagnosis*

Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection that generally occurs in patients with cell-mediated immune dysfunction and involves the central nervous system. Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients because of its innate immune dysfunction along with the administration of steroids and immunosuppressants. However, central nervous system cryptococcosis has rarely been reported in SLE patients. A timely diagnosis is critical because of its significant mortality and morbidity. Most cases of cryptococcal meningitis in SLE patients have been reported in those treated with steroids or immunosuppressants. We report on a SLE patient not on medication, who was diagnosed with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis.
Central Nervous System ; Cryptococcosis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; Meningoencephalitis* ; Mortality ; Opportunistic Infections ; Steroids

Amphotericin B ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy