title: Cryptococcosis in children.
abstract: Cryptococcosis is a systemic-opportunistic mycosis caused by two species of the encapsulated yeast-like organism, Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii, which cause infection in immunocompromised individuals and in immunologically normal hosts, respectively. Most susceptible to infection are patients with T-cell deficiencies. The spectrum of disease ranges from asymptomatic pulmonary lesions to disseminated infection with meningoencephalitis. After the emergence of AIDS, cryptococcal infections have become much more common. The mycosis occurs less frequently in children than in adults. The purpose of this article is to discuss the aetiology, clinical presentation, predisposing conditions and outcomes in cases of cryptococcosis in children. Emphasis is placed upon paediatric cases occuring in Brazil and in particular to highlight the difference between cases diagnosed in Porto Alegre (South - subtropical climate) and in Belem (North - equatorial climate).
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Micologia da Santa Casa Complexo Hospitalar de Porto Alegre, Brazil. cicasevero@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cecília Bittencourt
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Severo
authors.forename: Melissa Orzechowski
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Alexandra Flávia
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gazzoni
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Severo
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host