Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease, which in severe cases, could prove to be fatal. It is generally caused by a particular species of the fungus Cryptococcus, called Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcosis is said to be acquired by inhaling contagious propagule, usually present in one’s surroundings. Even though the accurate character of the contagious propagule is not known, the primary theory determines the basidiospore, which is produced in the course of sexual or asexual reproduction, to be the principal cause. Cryptococcosis disease symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, blurred vision, and dry cough, among others. The onset of the symptoms is often sub-acute, which worsens progressively over a few weeks. If the condition is discovered during the course of a routine health inspection, the doctor will usually recommend cryptococcosis treatment right away.
When it comes to diagnosing this condition, it is often difficult to determine whether pulmonary cryptococcosis is caused by a parasite or bacteria. In order to diagnose the infection, doctors will typically do an isolation of the lungs and review the biopsies. Tests such as urinalysis and culture of a blood sample will also reveal results. The most common cryptococcosis treatment involves use of amphotericin B and flucytosine. However, treatment options in persons without HIV-infection have not been well studied. Antibiotics are also used in the treatment of cryptococcal disease. These medications can be administered orally or intravenously. Treatment options include doxycycline, penicillin, amoxicillin, or a wide spectrum of other antibiotics. Patients that do not respond to the initial antibiotic may be given an additional course of oral or intravenous amoxicillin.
For some patients without laboratory findings indicative of a cryptococcal infection, oral or intravenous steroids may be prescribed. Although these drugs are effective against other bacterial infections, they may not work against cryptococcal. In such cases, cryptococcosis treatment options may include systemic medications such as prednisone or cyclosporine. In rare instances, immunotherapy may prove to be necessary in cryptococcosis treatment. Patients that do not respond to topical treatments, oral or intravenous antibiotics, or steroids may be referred to a specialist such as a dermatologist or an otolaryngologist.
In most patients with cryptococcal disease, oral or intravenous fluconazole plus flucytosine are the medication of choice. To treat the infection, this combination of medicines should be taken orally once a day for ten days. On the tenth day, another course of treatment may be recommended. The combination of a topical antibiotic and a systemic antifungal like fluconazole or amphotericin b plus flucytosine can produce symptomatic relief in up to 80% of patients. A majority of sufferers show improvement within a week, but fluconazole or amphotericin b therapy usually needs to continue for several months to keep the symptoms in check. Fluconazole or amphotericin b are available in both soft and hard dosage forms. Soft dosage forms are available without mixing with anything, whereas hard forms need to be mixed with water to make a solid, liquid dosage. Common combination treatments include: Amphotericin B plus fluconazole, or
Although cryptococcosis responds well to treatment, patients must continue ongoing treatment even after an apparent recovery. Treatment for this condition may involve prolonged use of topical and oral antifungals, as well as changes in diet and some lifestyle choices. Once complete relief has been achieved, patients should ensure that no further outbreaks occur and seek to continue their lifelong commitment to regular check-ups.
If Cryptococcosis is recognized early, successful treatment can be very successful. The key is to catch the infection while it is still at an early stage. Most patients who contract cryptococcosis do not show signs or symptoms until approximately ten weeks after the initial therapy has finished. Therefore, it is essential to undergo check-ups every ten weeks to ensure that the disease has not spread. Patients should also be alert to their general health and should notify their physician if they exhibit any unusual health changes.
A significant proportion of patients without antiviral therapy and with Cryptococcosis develop a relapse. Relapses can result in additional complications such as meningitis and brain inflammation, which may require prolonged hospitalization and permanent surgical removal of affected areas. In the long term, patients can experience irreversible damage to the brain, as well as permanent damage to the optic nerve.
It is important to remember that in most instances of uncomplicated Cryptococcosis, there is no cure. Therefore, treatment options should be individualized and should include at least the following options, in order to achieve adequate treatment: a high-intrinsic corfal antibiotic; a high-intrinsic streptococcal antibiotic; and, for patients without underlying immune deficiency, a flucytosine regimen. A combination of these different therapies will always produce the best results. For patients in poor economic conditions, there are a number of short-term treatments available, including, but not limited to, oral antibiotics, topical creams, nasal sprays, and, in cases where antibiotic therapy does not work, surgical facelifts.
