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Cryptococcal meningitis: epidemiology, immunology, diagnosis and therapy | Nature Reviews Neurology

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Cryptococcal meningitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromized individuals, and, even in apparently immunocompetent individuals, carries a high risk of mortality. Treatment in immunocompromized patients is challenging because these patients are at risk of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). This Review summarizes the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcal disease in various disease.

Subjects Central nervous system infections Fungal infection HIV infections Key Points In most clinical centres in Africa, despite access to antiretroviral therapies, cases of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis (CM) are not decreasing owing to challenges with retention and adherence to HIV care CM in HIV-negative individuals is relatively rare, but carries a mortality at least as high as in HIV-associated disease; therefore, CM must be considered in all cases of lymphocytic meningitis — even in the apparently immunocompetent A point-of-care, lateral flow 'dipstick' test to detect cryptococc

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