DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i06.024

Pages: 2160-2165

Cryptococcus meningitis is one of the commonest manifestations in immune compromised and immunocompetent individuals with significant morbidity and mortality. Our aim of the study was to study the clinical features, symptoms signs, laboratory investigations, and treatment outcome in Cryptococcal meningitis patients. This study was conducted over a period of 28 months. Total patients were10, with Male to Female ratio of 7:3and age ranging from 25 years to 60 years with mean age of 41.3 years. The commonest symptom was Headache in 100% followed by fever in 80% and commonest sign was neck stiffness in 80%.The risk factors were HIV infection in 70% and steroid intake in 20%.Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed Cryptococcal antigen positivity in 100%,India ink positivity in 80% and CSF cultured grown Cryptococcus in 50% patients,20% patients had Disseminated Cryptococcus .All the patients were treated with Amphotericin B followed by fluconazole .90% patients responded 1 patient (10%) died. Hence Cryptococcal meningitis should be diagnosed early and treatment should be started early to prevent morbidity and mortality.