cryptococcosis

An acute, subacute, or chronic infection by Cryptococcus neoformans, causing a pulmonary, disseminated, or meningeal mycosis. The pulmonary form may resolve spontaneously in previously normal persons but dissemination to other organs is fatal if untreated; the most common clinical manifestation is meningitis.

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cryp·to·coc·co·sis .krip-tə-(.)kä-'kō-səs n, pl -co·ses -(.)sēz an infectious disease that is caused by a fungus of the genus Cryptococcus (C. neoformans) and is characterized by the production of nodular lesions or abscesses in subcutaneous tissues, joints, and esp. the lungs, brain, and meninges and often by pneumonia or meningitis called also torulosis

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n.

a disease of worldwide distribution, but recognized mainly in the USA, caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. The fungus attacks the lung, resulting in a tumour-like solid mass (toruloma), but produces few or no symptoms referable to the lungs. It may spread to the brain, leading to meningitis; this may occur as an opportunistic infection in those suffering from AIDS. The condition responds well to treatment with amphotericin.

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cryp·to·coc·co·sis (krip″to-kŏ-koґsis) infection by Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, or rarely other Cryptococcus species, most commonly seen in immunocompromised patients. It begins with a pulmonary infection, which may be asymptomatic, following inhalation of the organism. Disseminated disease may occur and can affect most other organs, but it has a predilection for the brain and meninges, where it causes meningoencephalitis that ranges from subacute to chronic; skin involvement is characterized by an acneiform rash. Called also torulosis, European blastomycosis, and Buschke or Busse-Buschke disease.

Skin lesions in disseminated cryptococcosis.