ABSTRACT
Cryptococcus neoformans is the most frequent cause of fungal meningitis in humans. Cryptococcus affects people of all ages and has a worldwide distribution. It is the fourth most common infection in AIDS (CD4 counts <100/mm3). Cases also occur in patients with other forms of immunosuppression and in apparently immunocompetent individuals. Chronic high-dose steroid may precipitate such an immunocompromised state and thus create susceptibility to fungal infections. In our case, we describe a 14-year-old boy who was on steroids for tubercular meningitis for a period of 8â weeks after which he developed cryptococcal meningitis. Attention is drawn to the increasing number of reported cases of this disease which have been associated with steroid therapy and this possibility should be remembered when investigating patients with tubercular meningitis especially if they are being treated with steroids.
Subject(s)
Dexamethasone/adverse effects , Glucocorticoids/adverse effects , Meningitis, Cryptococcal/chemically induced , Opportunistic Infections/chemically induced , Adolescent , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Drug Therapy, Combination , HIV Seronegativity , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Meningitis, Cryptococcal/diagnosis , Meningitis, Cryptococcal/drug therapy , Opportunistic Infections/diagnosis , Opportunistic Infections/drug therapy , Tuberculosis, Miliary/diagnosisABSTRACT
Gonadal dysgenesis and Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) are the most common causes of primary amenorrhoea. Patients with gonadal dysgenesis present with primary amenorrhoea and lack of secondary sexual characteristics, which, in contrast, are present in patients with MRKHS. The coexistence of the 2 syndromes has been reported in only a few studies so far. We describe a case of a 15-year-old girl who presented with short stature and primary amenorrhoea. Investigations revealed hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, and absence of the uterus, and upper two-thirds of the vagina, with presence of the rudimentary lower third of the vagina and non-visualised bilateral ovaries on imaging. Karyotyping obtained by lymphocyte culture GTG banding revealed 45X/46XX. The patient was diagnosed as having a rare case of gonadal dysgenesis with MRKH. She was started on growth hormone therapy. The association of these syndromes is uncommon, and has further implications on fertility and pregnancy, affecting the quality of life.