Cryptococcal Meningitis in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Sero-positive Patient: A Case Study

Abstract

A 42-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with moderate-grade fever, severe headache, loss of appetite, and sore throat. She was suspected of Meningitis and her CSF sample was sent to the Laboratory for Microbiological Examination. The CSF sample obtained showed the presence of Capsulated budding yeast cells on India Ink Examination and Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated on SDA culture. The patient was recently diagnosed as HIV-Sero Positive and was immunocompromised leading to acquiring Cryptococcal meningitis. The lack of awareness of HIV-AIDS and delayed diagnosis of Cryptococcal meningitis led to a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis of HIV and timely treatment can improve the prognosis of the disease.