Central nervous system Aspergillus fumigatus infection after near drowning
- P A Kowacs1,
- S Monteiro de Almeida1,3,
- R L Pinheiro3,
- H Fameli1,
- E J Piovesan1,
- A Correia2,
- L C Werneck1
- 1Neurology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, 80060-900, Curitiba, Brazil
- 2Neurosurgery Department, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná
- 3Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná
- Correspondence to: Dr P A Kowacs Neurology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua General Carneiro 181, Sala 1236, 80060-900, Curitiba, Brazil; cefaleiahc.ufpr.br
- Accepted 17 July 2003
Abstract
Aims: To report the case of a 26 year old white man, who developed chronic meningitis and intracerebral granulomata 15 days after an episode of near drowning in a swamp.
Methods:Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid cultures.
Results: The patient died 70 days after the symptoms were first noticed, and seven days after a subarachnoid haemorrhage. Aspergillus has never been reported before as a cause of intracranial infection after near drowning. Conclusions: Physicians must be aware of this possibility when confronted with such a situation, because there are now effective therapeutic options for systemic aspergillosis.
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- CAT, computerised tomography
- CNS, central nervous system
- CSF, cerebrospinal fluid
- IV, intravenous
- b.i.d., twice a day
- t.i.d., three times a day
- q.i.d., four times a day
- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
