Cryptococcosis in Zimbabwe.

The records of 16 consecutive patients with proven cryptococcosis, admitted to the two referral hospitals in Harare over a 15-year period, were reviewed. 15 were cases of meningitis, one with spinal cord granuloma, and the 16th was an orbital osteomyelitis. There were eight children and eight adults with a marked male preponderance. There was an absence of any predisposing conditions. The common clinical signs and symptoms were headache, neck stiffness, fever, confusion or drowsiness, cranial nerve lesions and long tract signs. The diagnosis was rarely suspected on admission but was discovered during life in 15 patients, in 12 by finding the organism in the (CSF) cerebrospinal fluid, and in three by biopsy of affected tissue. 50% of patients presented with a predominance of polymorphs in the CSF. The mortality rate was very high (57%) but most died before adequate treatment could be given.