Table 1 Characteristics of pediatric patients with cryptococcal meningitis

Gender

 Male

11 (78.6)

3 (50.0)

14 (78.6)

0.643

Age, years

0.835

 0-5

3 (17.6)

1 (16.7)

4 (17.4)

 5-10

5 (29.4)

1 (16.7)

6 (26.1)

 10-15

7 (41.2)

2 (33.3)

9 (39.1)

 15-17

2 (11.8)

2 (33.3)

4 (17.4)

Geographic location

 Rural area

13 (76.5)

4 (66.7)

17 (73.9)

0.632

Date of illness onset

0.444

 December-February

5(29.4)

0(0.0)

5 (21.7)

 March-May

3(17.6)

1(16.7)

4 (17.4)

 June-August

7(41.2)

3(50.0)

10 (43.5)

 September-November

2(11.8)

2(33.3)

4 (17.4)

Contact with birds/droppings or saprophytes†

12 (70.6)

6 (100.0)

18 (78.3)

0.274

Time from illness onset to hospitalization (days)

0.093

 1-10

2 (11.8)

1 (16.7)

3(13.0)

 10-20

2 (11.8)

1 (16.7)

3 (13.0)

 20-30

11 (78.6)

1 (16.7)

12 (52.2)

 ≥30

2 (11.8)

3 (66.7)

5 (21.7)

Clinical symptoms and signs

 Fever (≥39°C)

8 (47.1)

5 (83.3)

13 (56.5)

0.179

 Headache

13 (76.5)

5 (83.3)

18 (78.3)

1.000

 Nausea

9 (52.9)

5 (83.3)

14 (78.6)

0.340

 Altered mental status

10 (58.8)

3 (50.0)

13 (56.5)

1.000

 Vomiting

10 (58.8)

2 (33.3)

12 (52.2)

0.371

 Seizures

6 (35.3)

4 (66.7)

10 (43.5)

0.341

 Meningeal signs

5 (29.4)

3 (50.0)

8 (34.8)

0.621

 Neck stiffness

6 (35.3)

1 (16.7)

7 (30.4)

0.621

 Hearing damage

3 (17.6)

1 (16.7)

4 (17.4)

1.000

 Visual damage

3 (17.6)

0 (0.0)

3 (13.0)

0.539

 Bregmatic eminence

1 (5.9)

0 (0.0)

1 (4.3)

1.000

Laboratory findings

 Blood leukocytosis (≥15 × 10⁹/L)

15 (65.2)

5 (83.3)

20 (87.0)

1.000

 Decreased CSF glucose (<3.1 mmol/L)

16 (94.1)

4 (66.7)

20 (87.0)

0.155

 Pleocytosis (×10⁶/L)

0.483

 <10

4 (23.5)

0 (0.0)

4 (17.4)

 10-100

7 (41.2)

2 (33.3)

9 (39.1)

 ≥100

6 (35.3)

4 (66.7)

10 (43.5)

 Elevated CSF proteins (≥0.45 g/L)

10 (58.8)

5 (83.3)

15 (65.2)

0.369

Intracranial pressure(>250 mm H₂O)

14(82.4)

3(50.0)

17 (73.9)

0.279