Treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis

The treatment regimen depends on the patient's symptoms, immune function, and presence or absence of extrapulmonary infections. Lumbar puncture is recommended for all patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary cryptococcal infections to rule out concomitant central nervous system infections. In immunocompetent patients with no symptoms and infection confined to the lungs, medication may be withheld or closely monitored or fluconazole may be administered. Mild to moderate symptoms are present. Immunologically normal or mild to moderate symptoms, no pulmonary infiltration, no other systemic involvement, limited to the lungs, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, etc. can be given.