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Papers of the Week


2022 Aug


Cureus


14


8

A Case of Rapidly Progressive Coccidioidal Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Authors

Fatima M, Patel RS, Brunworth JR, Gupta KA, Roach WE, Webeler PL, Mundelein CR, Mansour M
Cureus. 2022 Aug; 14(8):e28643.
PMID: 36120197.

Abstract

A 50-year-old male with a history of a dull headache and neck pain for a few weeks presented to the ER with complaints of progressive weakness and difficulty walking. Physical examination revealed a lethargic, confused patient with abnormal tremors at rest. Initial lab work was significant for elevated hemoglobin, hematocrit, and hyponatremia. Additionally, CT imaging was significant for prominent ventricles. Several serologies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were ordered to determine the etiology of the patient's meningitis. On day 10 of admission, serology results returned positive for  antibodies. The patient was started on an IV fluconazole treatment and underwent a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and Ommaya reservoir placement procedure. Cases of coccidioidal meningitis are rarely noted in recent literature. We present this clinical case of coccidioidomycosis dissemination into the central nervous system (CNS) to highlight the rare localization of the fungal infection in a baseline immunocompetent patient.