Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case report

Background: The common infection agents causing meningitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) include Cryptococcus neoformans and Treponema pallidum. Furthermore, there is an elevated risk of meningitis in patients with HIV concomitantly infected with SARS-CoV-2. Case presentatio...

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Main Authors: Qi Wang, Yunfei Pan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://www.jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20529
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author Qi Wang
Yunfei Pan
author_facet Qi Wang
Yunfei Pan
author_sort Qi Wang
collection DOAJ
description Background: The common infection agents causing meningitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) include Cryptococcus neoformans and Treponema pallidum. Furthermore, there is an elevated risk of meningitis in patients with HIV concomitantly infected with SARS-CoV-2. Case presentation: A 38-year-old male presented with headache and dizziness. After hospitalization, polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 with a nasopharyngeal swab was positive, and lumbar puncture revealed neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis. He underwent nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, penicillin, antifungal and antiretroviral treatment. The patient had no other neurological symptoms and was stable during the 6-month follow-up period. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic patients with HIV, particularly those who did not undergo antiretroviral therapy are at higher risk for severe infections, including central nervous system complications, due to their compromised immune systems.
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spelling doaj-art-ca2dbf6032454f5ea8ca19d3430b5ae32025-08-20T03:29:18ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802025-06-01190610.3855/jidc.20529Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case reportQi Wang0Yunfei Pan1Department of Infectious Diseases, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, ChinaDepartment of General Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, China Background: The common infection agents causing meningitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) include Cryptococcus neoformans and Treponema pallidum. Furthermore, there is an elevated risk of meningitis in patients with HIV concomitantly infected with SARS-CoV-2. Case presentation: A 38-year-old male presented with headache and dizziness. After hospitalization, polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 with a nasopharyngeal swab was positive, and lumbar puncture revealed neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis. He underwent nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, penicillin, antifungal and antiretroviral treatment. The patient had no other neurological symptoms and was stable during the 6-month follow-up period. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic patients with HIV, particularly those who did not undergo antiretroviral therapy are at higher risk for severe infections, including central nervous system complications, due to their compromised immune systems. https://www.jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20529COVID-19human immunodeficiency viruscentral nervous system infectioncryptococcal meningitisneurosyphilis
spellingShingle Qi Wang
Yunfei Pan
Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case report
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
COVID-19
human immunodeficiency virus
central nervous system infection
cryptococcal meningitis
neurosyphilis
title Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case report
title_full Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case report
title_fullStr Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case report
title_short Neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with AIDS after COVID-19: a case report
title_sort neurosyphilis with concomitant cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with aids after covid 19 a case report
topic COVID-19
human immunodeficiency virus
central nervous system infection
cryptococcal meningitis
neurosyphilis
url https://www.jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20529
work_keys_str_mv AT qiwang neurosyphiliswithconcomitantcryptococcalmeningitisinapatientwithaidsaftercovid19acasereport
AT yunfeipan neurosyphiliswithconcomitantcryptococcalmeningitisinapatientwithaidsaftercovid19acasereport