Cryptococcal Meningitis
Audio
A life-threatening infection caused by the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, which infect the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include fever, malaise, and headache. Cryptococcal meningitis most often affects people with weakened immune systems, including people with HIV. In people with HIV, cryptococcal meningitis is an AIDS-defining condition.