cryptococcosis

Also known as Busse-Buschke's disease, European cryptococcosis, torula, torulosis, cryptococcal infection, cryptococcus neoformans infection, Cryptococcosis、Cryptococcal disease

Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal fungal infection of mainly the lungs, presenting as a pneumonia, and in the brain, where it appears as a meningitis. Coughing, difficulty breathing, chest pain and fever are seen when the lungs are infected. When the brain is infected, symptoms include headache, fever, neck pain, nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity and confusion or changes in behavior. It can also affect other parts of the body including skin, where it may appear as several fluid-filled nodules with dead tissue.

Key facts

Medical condition (new).name: Cryptococcosis
Medical condition (new).image: Cryptococcus.jpg
Medical condition (new).synonyms: Busse-Buschke disease, cryptococcic meningitis, cryptococcosis lung, cryptococcosis skin, European Blastomycosis, torular meningitis, torulosis
Medical condition (new).caption: Micrograph of cryptococcosis showing the characteristically thick capsule of cryptococcus. Field stain.
Medical condition (new).field: Infectious disease
Medical condition (new).symptoms: Lung: Cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain and fever. Brain: Headache, fever, neck pain, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, confusion, change in behaviour. Skin: Nodules with dead tissue.
Medical condition (new).causes: Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii
Medical condition (new).risks: HIV/AIDS, Aviculture
Medical condition (new).diagnosis: Biopsy, culture
Medical condition (new).treatment: Antifungal medication

~19 min read

Article

17 sections

Contents

Classification
Signs and symptoms
Cause
Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis
Pulmonary cryptococcosis
Cryptococcal meningitis
Diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment
IRIS
Epidemiology
In the United States
In sub-Saharan Africa
Other animals
References
Further reading
External links

It is caused by the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans or less commonly Cryptococcus gattii, and is acquired by breathing in the spores from the air. These fungi are found globally in soil, decaying wood, pigeon droppings, and in the hollows of some species of trees. Whereas C. neoformans generally infects people with HIV/AIDS and those on immunosuppressant drugs and does not usually affect fit and healthy people, C. gattii (found in some parts of Canada and the US) does. Once breathed in, the dried yeast cells colonize the lungs, where they are either cleared by immune cells, lie dormant, or cause infection and spread.