Cryptococcosis is infection with Cryptococcus neoformans fungus.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors Cryptococcus neoformans is
the fungus that causes this disease. It is usually found in
soil. If you breathe it in, it infects your lungs. The infection
may go away on its own, remain in the lungs only, or spread
throughout the body (disseminate). This infection is most often
seen in people with a weakened immune system, such as those with
HIV infection, taking high doses of corticosteroid medications,
cancer chemotherapy, or who have Hodgkin's disease. Cryptococcus
is one of the most common life-threatening fungal infections in
people with AIDS. People with a normal immune system may have no
symptoms at all. The infection may spread to the brain in people
who have a weakened immune system. Neurological (brain) symptoms
start slowly. Most people with this infection have swelling and
irritation of the brain and spinal cord when they are diagnosed.
Cryptococcal antigen test (looks for a certain molecule that the