AIDs and headache

Question 1

Brain accesses cause by? in AIDS patients

Answer 1

toxoplasma gondii

Question 2

cause of meningitis in immunocompromised patients

Answer 2

cryptococcus neoformans

Question 3

Fungal diseases in AIDs

Answer 3

oral and oesophageal mucosal disease due to candida albicans
meningitis due to cryptococcus neoformans

Question 4

Types of fungal infections?

Answer 4

common minor skin and mucosal infections OR rare, serious and deep tissue infections

Question 5

Fungi: yeasts vs moulds

Answer 5

Yeasts: round or oral, reproduce by budding
Moulds: Tubular hyphae, reproduce by spores

Question 6

About candida albicans: overgrowth and disease presentation

Answer 6

commensal of mouth, gut and vagina
overgrowth related to antibacterial therapy, immune suppression, hormonal effects, foreign bodies
Causes: oral or vaginal thrush, cutaneous or nail candidasis, urinary catheter related bladder infection, rare systemic infection

Question 7

About cryptococcus neoformans

- where form?

Answer 7

pigeon faeces
The mulch underneath eucalyptus trees
- environmental contamination common
* test with indian ink stain or ELISA

Question 8

About cryptococcus neoformans

- causes

Answer 8

pulmonary infection
- due to inhalation of arolised fungus from the environment
- totally controlled in people with normal immune system
- usually asymptomatic
spread via blood to CSF in people with severe immunodeficiency
Meningitis in immunodeficient people –> chronic lymphocytic meningitis ( slow deterioration in mental state with headache and fever)

Question 9

Dermatophytes

• cause?
• invasive?
• hosts?
• species?
• treatment

Answer 9

• tinea, capitits, curries
• never
• human or animal
• e.g. microsporium species
• for skin, topical azole, for nails oral agent

Question 10

pityriasis / tinea caused by?

Answer 10

Malassezia fyrfur, hypopigmented muscles on trunk, treatment with 2 weeks topical or 1 week azalea

Question 11

seborrheic dermatitis?

Answer 11

from pityrosporum species

Greasy facial rash, dandruff, treatment with topical azalea

Question 12

aspergillus fumigatus

Answer 12

spore bearing beaching mould
widespread in rotting vegetation
Rare cause of severe disease in neutropenic patients
can also cause allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis = cavitiating necrotising pneumonia

Question 13

relavent causes of fever headache and impaired thinking

Answer 13

Meningitis 
- bacteria, fungi, viruses 
Brain abccesses 
- bacteria 
Encepatlitis 
- viruses