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Cryptococcal meningitis


E.W. van den Ende
J.A. Hammond
R.L. Amoils

Abstract

Cryptococcal meningitis occurred in an elderly Coloured woman in the Northern Cape. She presented with symptoms and signs suggestive of encephalitis 4 weeks after a cholecystectomy. After the administration of cortisone, cryptococcal organisms were isolated in her cerebrospinal fluid. She was first treated with intravenous amphotericin-B without improvement, and then with 5-f1uorocytosine orally, to which she responded without appreciable sideeffects. An abdominal gland biopsy suggested sarcoidosis, but sarcoid reaction may occur in the presence of cryptococcosis, although the organisms could not be demonstrated, as is often the case.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 555 (1974).

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574