Cryptococcus cutaneous: marker of severity in disseminated infection

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection responsible for high morbidity and mortality in patients in immunosuppressive clinical conditions. The sites most affected by the hematogenous spread after the lungs are the central nervous system and the skin. The early diagnostic associated with a standard fungal therapy is important for decrease the clinical sequelae derived. We describe an unusual situation of disseminated cryptococcosis without pulmonary involvement in a patient with newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency syndrome with cutaneous lesions as initial markers of severity and precursory of cryptococcal meningitis. In this case, the authors describe a systemic approach to how an initial skin lesion is key to reach the diagnosis and perform an early treatment avoiding irreversible sequelae.