CRYPTOCOCCAL MENINGITIS IN CHILDREN IN PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA - A REMINDER

Two young males from Central Province were referred to Port Moresby Ge neral Hospital with chronic headaches. In each case the initial impres sion of tuberculous meningitis needed revision in the light of strongl y positive cryptococcal serology, Cryptococcal meningitis occurs with sufficient frequency in Papua New Guinea that it should be considered in cases of raised intracranial pressure, ataxia, cranial neuropathy a nd visual disturbances. Delay in treatment may be disastrous, In contr ast to the developed world where fungal meningitides show a predilecti on for the immunosuppressed, the experience to date in Papua New Guine a is that the majority of cases in both adults and children occur in o stensibly immunocompetent individuals. The epidemiology, clinical cour se and current treatment of this potentially curable disease are discu ssed.