First HIV Diagnosis in a Patient with Cryptococcus Neoformans Meningitis : A Case Report.

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infection in HIV-positive patients. It usually presents with symptoms of lethargy, personality changes, memory disorders and cognitive decline. Fever is a common symptom, while specific meningeal signs such as headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia appear in 25 to 33% of patients. However, these symptoms are non-specific and unreliable in advanced HIV infection where the inflammatory response is impaired. Treatment in HIV-infected patients includes a combination of appropriate antifungal therapy, medical interventions aiming at the reduction of elevated intracranial pressure, and initiation of antiretroviral therapy at the appropriate time to avoid immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS). We present a case of a patient diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis and newly diagnosed HIV infection in the Department of Internal Medicine at KAT General Hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]