title: [Cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected patients at Bobo-Dioulasso hospital (Burkina Faso)].
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an important fungal pathogen in immunocompromised patients. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in patients admitted to Bobo-Dioulasso Hospital over a 3 year-period. During this period, cryptococcal meningo-encephalitis was diagnosed in 36 individuals. The median age of the patients under study was 34.25 years. There was a male preponderance (24 males/12 females) in our report. Typical presentations were persistent headaches (27 cases/36), neck stiffness (16/36), altered consciousness (14/36), fever (12/36) and convulsions (9/36). Oral candidiasis coexisted with cryptococcal meningitis in 7 patients. HIV serology was positive in all patients. At diagnosis, lymphocytes counts were < 1500/mm3 in 66.66% patients. CSF examination with India ink helped to the diagnosis of cryptococcosis in all cases. Cryptococcus neoformans was associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae in 4 patients. 15/36 patients died within 1 to 29 days after admission. High mortality was related to delayed diagnosis. Cryptococcal meningitis highly contributes to mortality in HIV-infected patients in Burkina Faso and it may occur in patients not severely immunocompromised patients. A need exists to improve strategies for clinical management of AIDS patients in poor African countries.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, Centre hospitalier national Souro Sanou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. athanase_millogo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millogo
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ki-Zerbo
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Andonaba
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lankoandé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yaméogo
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D006261:Headache / Q000382:microbiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000382:microbiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data