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Cryptococcosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Treatment:

Some infections require no treatment. However, medical observation should continue for a year to detect any progression of the disease. If pulmonary lesions are present or the disease spreads, antifungal medications are prescribed, and treatment with these agents may be prolonged.

Medications include:

• Amphotericin B
• Flucytosine
• Fluconazole

Expectations (prognosis):

Central nervous system involvement often causes death or leads to permanent damage.

Complications:

• Relapse of infection
• Meningitis
• Permanent brain or nerve damage
• Side effects of medications (such as Amphotericin B) can be severe

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms develop that are suggestive of cryptococcosis, particularly if you have an impaired immune system.

• Review Date: 10/9/2006
• Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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