Meningitis is a condition that involves infection and inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and the spinal cord. Causes include bacteria, viruses and, in the case of fungal meningitis, fungi. Fungal meningitis is a relatively rare form of meningitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Patients with immune system deficiencies run a higher risk of developing fungal meningitis. The fungus Cryptococcus neoformans causes a form of fungal meningitis known as cryptococcal meningitis, which is the most common type of fungal meningitis among patients with deficient immune systems. Fungal, bacterial and viral meningitis share many of the same symptoms.
Flu-Like Symptoms
The symptoms of fungal meningitis include flu-like symptoms such as fever, nausea and vomiting. Frequently only one of these symptoms appears, but a combination of any two can also occur. These symptoms may increase or decrease in intensity over time, according to the clinical reference text "Infections of the Central Nervous System." This fluctuation may give an erroneous impression that the patient's illness has improved.
AIDS patients who develop cryptococcal meningitis may experience mild symptoms or no symptoms, notes the Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. In patients whose immune systems have become severely compromised, including those undergoing treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, severe cryptococcal meningitis symptoms---including flu-like symptoms---may develop rapidly within a matter of a few days. Death can occur within weeks if patients do not receive treatment.
Pain Symptoms
Pain symptoms of fungal meningitis include severe headache and the classic meningitis symptom of stiff neck. The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center notes that the severity of the neck stiffness that may accompany meningitis can prevent patients from lowering their chins to their chests. These pain symptoms, which also occur with other forms of meningitis, may appear individually or together or in conjunction with flu-like symptoms.
Photophobia and Mental Changes
Symptoms that are unique to fungal meningitis include pain or discomfort when looking at bright lights, a condition known as photophobia. Mental changes also occur and can include confusion, irritation and general upset feelings, notes PDR Health. A patient's friends or family may notice changes in the affected person's personality, and the patient himself may experience changes in his mental state. He might experience hallucinations in which he sees things that do not exist.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Meningitis---About the Disease
- "Infections of the Central Nervous System"; W. Michael Scheld, et al.; 2004
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Cryptococcosis
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: Viral Meningitis
- PDR Health: Fungal Meningitis
