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Central nervous system Aspergillus fumigatus infection after near drowning
  1. P A Kowacs1,
  2. S Monteiro de Almeida1,3,
  3. R L Pinheiro3,
  4. H Fameli1,
  5. E J Piovesan1,
  6. A Correia2,
  7. L C Werneck1
  1. 1Neurology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, 80060-900, Curitiba, Brazil
  2. 2Neurosurgery Department, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná
  3. 3Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr P A Kowacs
 Neurology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua General Carneiro 181, Sala 1236, 80060-900, Curitiba, Brazil; cefaleiahc.ufpr.br

Abstract

Aims: To report the case of a 26 year old white man, who developed chronic meningitis and intracerebral granulomata 15 days after an episode of near drowning in a swamp.

Methods:Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid cultures.

Results: The patient died 70 days after the symptoms were first noticed, and seven days after a subarachnoid haemorrhage. Aspergillus has never been reported before as a cause of intracranial infection after near drowning. Conclusions: Physicians must be aware of this possibility when confronted with such a situation, because there are now effective therapeutic options for systemic aspergillosis.

  • near drowning
  • Aspergillus sp
  • aspergillosis
  • brain abscess
  • meningitis
  • ALT, alanine aminotransferase
  • AST, aspartate aminotransferase
  • CAT, computerised tomography
  • CNS, central nervous system
  • CSF, cerebrospinal fluid
  • IV, intravenous
  • b.i.d., twice a day
  • t.i.d., three times a day
  • q.i.d., four times a day
  • MRI, magnetic resonance imaging

https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.2003.010066

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