This inflammation is dangerous, and leads to death in nearly all people who are not treated.
Treatments do exist, however, and are quite effective.
Cryptococcal meningitis is not very common. The fungus that causes cryptococcal meningitis is common in dirt and dust, especially in dirt containing bird droppings. People are normally infected when they breathe in dirt that contains the organism Cryptococcus . In healthy individuals, this infection is usually contained in the lungs and never causes disease. Scientists believe that most cases of cryptococcal disease are caused by a reactivation of previous infection rather than a new infection.