Cryptococcal meningitis in an HIV-negative patient: clinical case report

Abstract

Cryptococcal meningitis is a mycosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Gattii, which is transmitted by air and affects the lungs and central nervous system. This disease is a common cause of meningitis in patients with HIV/AIDS; however, in recent years there has been an increase of cases in immunocompetent patients, for this reason, the following case report is made. The objective of this report is to present the case of a patient with cryptococcal meningitis in the absence of HIV infection by reviewing the clinical history. The following is the case of a 67-year-old male with a history of arterial hypertension, under treatment with losartan and amlodipine, who came to the emergency room with a clinical picture of asthenia, algic with severe headache 7/10 VAS scale, the clinical picture evolves with decreased strength in the lower limbs and severe headache 10/10. The need for further investigation of the immunopathological mechanisms of cryptococcal infection in seronegative individuals is emphasized, as understanding the immune responses could improve diagnosis and treatment. In cryptococcal meningitis, elevated intracranial pressure influences prognosis in 50% of cases. Limited diagnostic resources and time hinder accurate identification of the cause and effective treatment in seronegative patients.