clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

Like other fungal and tuberculous meningitides the disease is subacute. The patient may be unwell for several weeks before succumbing or may continue for years undiagnosed.

The usual presenting complaints are:

  • headache
  • fever
  • neck stiffness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • personality and memory deterioration
  • features of raised intracranial pressure

In some cases the characteristic meningitic symptoms of headache and neck stiffness are absent.

On examination there may be papilloedema and occasionally cranial nerve palsies. There may be cerebellar dysfunction and a spastic paraparesis. In cases where a cerebral abscess develops there may be further focal neurological signs.