Cryoptococcal meningitis

January 2007     View PDF     En español

Is treatment or prevention different for children or infants?

Cryptococcal meningitis is much less common in children and infants than it is in adults and adolescents, occurring in less than 1% of all children living with HIV. Fever was the most common symptom experienced by those children who have become ill with cryptococcal meningitis. The only treatments available are generally not recommended for children or infants. Federal guidelines suggest using fluconazole as primary treatment for cryptococcal meningitis only in extreme situations. If treatment is absolutely necessary, however, fluconazole is the first choice for treatment at a recommended dosing of 3–6mg/kg by oral suspension daily. An alternative treatment is itraconazole at 2–5mg/kg by oral suspension every 12–24 hours.