Cryptococcosis

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Cryptococcosis on the forehead

Cryptococcus, cutaneous on the hand

Some infections require no treatment. Even so, there should be regular check-ups for a full year to make sure the infection has not spread. If there are lung lesions or the disease spreads, antifungal medications are prescribed. These drugs may need to be taken for a long time.

Medications include:

• Amphotericin B
• Flucytosine
• Fluconazole

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

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

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of cryptococcosis, especially if you have a weakened immune system.

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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