Clinical signs and symptoms
C.neoformans causes crytococcosis. This can be asymptomatic, chronic, or acute (1); depending on the individual infected. The signs and symptoms are usually broad and can manifest as coughing, chest pain, fever, shorthness of breath, weight loss, and malaise (1,2). In immune-compromised patients, cases can present as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (2) or in more severe cases as meningitis or meningoencephalitis. The symptoms of the latter include fever, headache, increased intracranial pressure, lethargy, coma, personality changes, and memory loss (2). Some other less common infections of the skin (1,2), prostate (3), and eye (2) have also been reported but these tend to be secondary in nature.
Infections
C.neoformans infections are usually caused by inhaling spores or desiccated yeast cells (4) which initially causes respiratory tract infections. In individuals with a competent immune system, infections are usually asymptomatic and easily cleared (5). It has however been reported that such individuals can have cryptococcal cells that reside latently or in a dormant stage within …show more content…
neofrmans at least once in their lifetime. This is due to the fact that C.neoformans is ubiquitous in the environment (1,2). It is commonly isolated in nitrogen rich environments such as avian excreta, soil and trees (1,2). A serological study in children in the USA showed that asymptomatic C.neoformans infections would occur in a majority of children as by two years of age (8). This therefore implies that it is close to impossible to not be exposed to this fungus since it is so abundant in the environment. However, as mentioned previously, in healthy individuals the immune system would have cleared the pathogen before any damage can be caused. As such, cryptococcosis is not a commonly seen disease in Australia unless the infected person is
C.neoformans causes crytococcosis. This can be asymptomatic, chronic, or acute (1); depending on the individual infected. The signs and symptoms are usually broad and can manifest as coughing, chest pain, fever, shorthness of breath, weight loss, and malaise (1,2). In immune-compromised patients, cases can present as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (2) or in more severe cases as meningitis or meningoencephalitis. The symptoms of the latter include fever, headache, increased intracranial pressure, lethargy, coma, personality changes, and memory loss (2). Some other less common infections of the skin (1,2), prostate (3), and eye (2) have also been reported but these tend to be secondary in nature.
Infections
C.neoformans infections are usually caused by inhaling spores or desiccated yeast cells (4) which initially causes respiratory tract infections. In individuals with a competent immune system, infections are usually asymptomatic and easily cleared (5). It has however been reported that such individuals can have cryptococcal cells that reside latently or in a dormant stage within …show more content…
neofrmans at least once in their lifetime. This is due to the fact that C.neoformans is ubiquitous in the environment (1,2). It is commonly isolated in nitrogen rich environments such as avian excreta, soil and trees (1,2). A serological study in children in the USA showed that asymptomatic C.neoformans infections would occur in a majority of children as by two years of age (8). This therefore implies that it is close to impossible to not be exposed to this fungus since it is so abundant in the environment. However, as mentioned previously, in healthy individuals the immune system would have cleared the pathogen before any damage can be caused. As such, cryptococcosis is not a commonly seen disease in Australia unless the infected person is