[Twenty-two cases of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in Tunisia]. / Vingt-deux cas de cryptococcose neuromeningée en Tunisie.

ABSTRACT

Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis is a serious infection witch occurs essentially in immunodepressed patients and especially AIDS patients. We report 22 cases of cryptococcosis meningitis confirmed by the parasitology laboratory, in the Tunis Rabta hospital, over a 16-year period. Sixteen patients were HIV infected and six were not HIV infected. The clinical examination documented fever and headache as well as focal neurological signs especially in HIV infected patients. The mycological examination of CSF proved the diagnosis of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in all cases. The first line treatment was Amphotericin B in 13 cases, Amphotericin B and 5Fluorocytosine in three cases, and fluconazole in six cases. 14 patients died, seven recovered, and one was lost to follow-up.