Fungal Meningitis

Introduction
Fungal Meningitis is rare and the most common cause of this is Cryptococcus species infection, but many other fungi may occasionally cause meningitis. The fungi are usually inhaled and then spread by the blood to the central nervous system. The fungi may also be directly inserted into the central nervous system by medical techniques or enter from an infected area near the central nervous system to cause meningitis.

Causes
Most cases of meningitis are caused by an infectious agent that has colonized or established a localized infection elsewhere in the host. Potential sites of colonization or infection include the skin, the nasopharynx, the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the genitourinary tract. The organism invades the submucosa at these sites by circumventing host defenses.

Treatment
Fungal meningitis is treated with long courses of high dose antifungal medications. The length of treatment depends on the status of the immune system and the type of fungus that caused the infection. For people with immune systems that does not function well because of other conditions, like AIDS, diabetes, or cancer, treatment is often longer.

Statistics
Fungal Meningitis causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The incidence and Prevalence of this disease is varying among different populations. It is reported that, in Argentina, Fungal Meningitis shares 6-10% of the total Meningitis-Related Hospitalizations. This disease affects all age groups without any sexual discrimination.