: an infectious disease that is caused by a fungus (Cryptococcus neoformans) and is characterized by the production of lesions in subcutaneous tissues, joints, and especially the lungs, brain, and meninges and often by pneumonia or meningitis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebTo be sure, fungal infections are already more common in warm locations—the rates of a fungus called cryptococcosis, which can be deadly to people with AIDS, can reach 30 percent in Africa, compared to just 5-10 percent in more temperate regions. Rose Eveleth, Wired, 23 Nov. 2021 Notable examples include multiple different species of yeast hybrids that cause the human diseases cryptococcosis and candidiasis. Antonis Rokas, The Conversation, 4 June 2020
Word History
Etymology
cryptococcus + -osis, after French cryptococcose
First Known Use
1916, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
cryptococcosis
noun
cryp·to·coc·co·sis ˌkrip-tə-(ˌ)kä-ˈkō-səs
plural cryptococcoses -(ˌ)sēz
: an infectious disease that is caused by a fungus of the genus Cryptococcus (C. neoformans) and is characterized by the production of nodular lesions or abscesses in subcutaneous tissues, joints, and especially the lungs, brain, and meninges and often by pneumonia or meningitis