A Mother's Perspective
Update on Cryptococcus gattii - January 15, 2012
There has been very little discussion about Cryptococcus gattii over the past 18 months. It is a low risk disease but an important one to be informed about for those of us living on or visiting Vancouver Island and the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S.A.
A November 2010 article on Cryptococcus gattii in Medscape Medical News stated that "lung nodules on chest X-ray might be first sign of an infection".* In information I have received or read about C. gattii cases, very often people have first received a diagnosis of pneumonia and/or some type of cancer. Perhaps it is time to add Cryptococcus gattii to the list of possibilities.
In Mike's case, when I requested that he be checked for C. gattii, I was told there wasn't anything in the tests that would indicate Cryptococcus. In fact there was, a chest X-ray taken the previous week showed unexplained nodules in Mike's lungs. It was the doctor in the Intensive Care Unit that showed me Mike's chest X-ray and explained that the nodules were Cryptococcus gattii.
Everything I have read and our own personal experience says - you need early intervention in order to have a positive outcome with c. gattii.
I also add a caution about the use of NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) medications if you have symptoms of Cryptococcus gattii. If you read Mike's Case on this website you will note that he was prescribed an antibiotic (Ciproflaxin) and then an NSAID (Indomethacin). As it turned out, these medications were prescribed for conditions Mike did not have. We believe they played a significant role in lowering his ability to fight the C. gattii he did have.
Know the symptoms of C. gattii and if they are present, please talk to your doctor—request to be tested.
* Keller, D. M. (2010, November 5). Cryptococcal Disease Moves From the Tropics to the Pacific Northwest. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/732016