Infectious diseases >>>> What is cryptococcosis?

What is cryptococcosis?

Cryptococcosis is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, a microorganism that is quite resistant to the effects of the external environment. Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast-like fungus, so it can be dried for a long time and does not lose its toxic properties. The disease has synonyms: European blastomycosis, torulosis. Fungus Cryptococcus neoformans - a neurotropic fungus that usually multiplies in the tissues of the nervous system, although it can multiply in other tissues of the body. The result of the disease is damage to the central nervous system, sometimes the lungs, mucous membranes and skin. Most often, the disease is found in males from 40 to 60 years old. The disease of cryptococcosis is referred to as diseases - markers of AIDS, since the most frequent cases of detection of this infection are in patients with HIV infection.

The disease of cryptococcosis is characterized by various forms of the course and a severe nature of the disease.

The disseminated form of cryptococcosis (generalized cryptococcosis) is typical for patients with immunodeficiency, diabetes mellitus, and blood diseases. With this development of the disease, many organs are affected: eyes, skin, lymph nodes, bone tissue, spleen, adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, heart.

The pulmonary form of cryptococcosis can be asymptomatic, the lung tissue is the object of damage.

The meningeal form of cryptococcosis is characterized by slow development and minor symptoms, in this case, the substance of the brain, the meninges, is affected.

The entrance gate for the pathogen is considered to be the respiratory tract, sometimes injured skin (skin torulosis). The path of transmission of the pathogen is air-dusty. Sometimes the fungus is found on the mucous membranes of a healthy person and exists there as a saprophyte. Typically, the causative agent of cryptococcosis is found in bird droppings, in nesting places of birds, in soil fertilized with bird droppings. The birds themselves do not get sick. The fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is found in the droppings of sparrows and pigeons.

Signs of cryptococcosis:

Meningeal syndrome (headache, vomiting);
The headache occurs in the frontal region and then travels to the back of the head;
The headache attacks are unbearable;
The temperature does not rise above subfebrile even in severe cases;
In the pulmonary form, a cough, chest pains, signs of bilateral pneumonia, respiratory failure appear ;
Decreases body weight;
A skin rash may appear;
Consciousness, psyche is disturbed, delirium appears;
The general condition gradually worsens, the body goes into a coma and the result is a death from respiratory paralysis;
The total duration of the disease is within four to six months.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out on the basis of laboratory studies of the pathogenic microorganism. Differential diagnosis is carried out with a number of diseases that are similar in symptoms: bacterial meningitis, viral meningoencephalitis, tuberculosis, brain tumors or abscesses, basal cell skin cancer, skin tuberculosis, periostitis.

Treatment of cryptococcosis is based on intrathecal injection of Amphotericin B (injection into the surrounding spinal cord intrathecal region of the spine). In persons with immunodeficiency, therapy with Flucytosine, Fluconazole and Itraconazole is also carried out. Pulmonary cryptococcosis in cases where HIV infection is absent is treated with Fluconazole.