Knowledge on rare diseases and orphan drugs
COVID-19 & Rare diseases
Rare Diseases Resources for Refugees/Displaced Persons
Search for a rare disease
Cryptococcosis
A cosmopolitan fungal infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans.
ORPHA:1546
Annual incidence has been estimated at between 1/5,000 and 1/50,000 depending on the geographic region. Immunodeficient patients are the main target.
Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis is usually asymptomatic, but disseminates throughout the organism, particularly to the central nervous system causing subacute meningoencephalitis. Mucocutaneous infection is frequent.
C. neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that reproduces by budding. It is abundant in the ground, in fruit, milk, and pigeon droppings. Infection is acquired via the respiratory or digestive route, rarely through the skin, and disseminates in the organism by blood or the lymphatic system. Interhuman transmission does not occur.
Diagnosis is made after detection of encapsulated yeast in cerebrospinal fluid or other affected organs, or in cultures.
Differential diagnoses include the other species of Cryptococcus.
Amphotericin B and newer antifungal drugs (triazoles) sterilize the lesions. The treatment should be continued for as long as the patient is immunodeficient.
The prognosis is usually good if treatment is well conducted.
Last update: October 2008 - Expert reviewer(s): Dr Annick DATRYFurther information on this disease
Patient-centred resources for this disease
Research activities on this disease
Newborn screening