Cryptococcosis

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Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, a world-wide distribution fungus which is commonly found in soil, especially that containing pigeon and avian droppings. Infection is acquired by inhaling spores of fungus¹.

Epidemiology

Occur worldwide without any defined endemic areas. ~~Cryptococcal~~ Cryptococcal infections in humans likely occur when the organism is aerosolized and inhaled ³.

Clinical presentation

The lungs, central nervous system, blood, skin, bone, joints, and prostate are the most commonly involved sites.

It occurs predominantly in immunocompromised patients but can also be seen in the normal host. ¹:

immunocompetent host: cryptococcal infections are commonly localised to the lung and the patients are asymptomatic¹.
immunocompromised patient: cryptococcal infections often cause symptomatic pulmonary infections and then often disseminate to the central nervous system, skin, and bones¹.

In fact, central nervous system infection after haematogenous dissemination is more common than pulmonary ~~infection~~ infection.

-<p><strong>Cryptococcosis</strong> is a fungal infection caused by <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em>, a world-wide distribution fungus which is commonly found in soil, especially that containing pigeon and avian droppings. Infection is acquired by inhaling spores of fungus <sup>1</sup>. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Occur worldwide without any defined endemic areas. Cryptococcal infections in humans likely occur when the organism is aerosolized and inhaled <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>The lungs, central nervous system, blood, skin, bone, joints, and prostate are the most commonly involved sites.</p><p>It occurs predominantly in immunocompromised patients but can also be seen in the normal host. </p><ul><li>immunocompetent host : cryptococcal infections are commonly localised to the lung and the patients are asymptomatic<sup>1</sup>. </li><li>immunocompromised patient : cryptococcal infections often cause symptomatic pulmonary infections and then often disseminate to the central nervous system, skin, and bones<sup>1</sup>.</li></ul><p>In fact, central nervous system infection after haematogenous dissemination is more common than pulmonary infection. </p><h4>See also</h4><ul><li><a href="/articles/pulmonary-cryptococcosis" title="Pulmonary cryptococcosis">pulmonary cryptococcosis</a></li><li><a href="/articles/cns-cryptococcosis" title="CNS Cryptococcosis">CNS cryptococcosis</a></li></ul>
+<p><strong>Cryptococcosis</strong> is a fungal infection caused by <em>Cryptococcus neoformans</em>, a world-wide distribution fungus which is commonly found in soil, especially that containing pigeon and avian droppings. Infection is acquired by inhaling spores of fungus <sup>1</sup>. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Occur worldwide without any defined endemic areas. Cryptococcal infections in humans likely occur when the organism is aerosolized and inhaled <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>The lungs, central nervous system, blood, skin, bone, joints, and prostate are the most commonly involved sites.</p><p>It occurs predominantly in immunocompromised patients but can also be seen in the normal host <sup>1</sup>:</p><ul>
+<li>
+<strong>immunocompetent host: </strong>cryptococcal infections are commonly localised to the lung and the patients are asymptomatic</li>
+<li>
+<strong>immunocompromised patient: </strong>cryptococcal infections often cause symptomatic pulmonary infections and then often disseminate to the central nervous system, skin, and bones</li>
+</ul><p>In fact, central nervous system infection after haematogenous dissemination is more common than pulmonary infection.</p><h4>See also</h4><ul>
+<li><a href="/articles/pulmonary-cryptococcosis">pulmonary cryptococcosis</a></li>
+<li><a href="/articles/cns-cryptococcosis-1">CNS cryptococcosis</a></li>
+</ul>