How serious is cryptococcosis?

Cryptococcosis can range in severity from a mild, flu-like illness to a life-threatening infection of the brain and/or lungs.

In healthy people, cryptococcosis usually causes only a mild illness, with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and a cough. However, in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or organ transplants, cryptococcosis can cause a serious infection of the brain (cryptococcal meningitis) or lungs (cryptococcal pneumonia). Cryptococcal meningitis is a particularly serious infection, and can be fatal if not treated promptly.