Disseminated Cryptococcosis in an HIV-negative patient in South Africa: the elusive differential diagnosis

Authors

  • Mohammed Mitha Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Preneshni Naicker Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
  • Prakash Mahida Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.813

Keywords:

Disseminated cryptococcus, HIV negative, South Africa

Abstract

The presence of an opportunistic infection in a patient in sub-Saharan Africa is assumed to be due to underlying immunosuppression from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The presence of disseminated cryptococcosis in a non-HIV-infected patient is interesting as it is unique in our setting because the majority of infections are found in HIV-infected individuals. The protean manifestations of the disease and its predilection for immunosuppressed patients make cryptococcosis a challenging and elusive disease to diagnose in HIV-negative patients in our setting, especially due to limited resources. We present a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient and discuss diagnostic and therapeutic features in this subset of patients.

Author Biographies

Mohammed Mitha, Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

Registrar in Internal Medicine

Tygerberg Hospital

Preneshni Naicker, Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

Registrar in Medical Microbiology

Tygerberg Hospital

National Health Laboratory Services

Prakash Mahida, Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

Specialist Physician

Consultant in Internal Medicine

Tygerberg Hospital

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Published

2010-05-04

How to Cite

1.
Mitha M, Naicker P, Mahida P (2010) Disseminated Cryptococcosis in an HIV-negative patient in South Africa: the elusive differential diagnosis. J Infect Dev Ctries 4:526–529. doi: 10.3855/jidc.813

Issue

Section

Case Reports