[Cryptococcosis in children in the State of Pará, Brazil]

We report 19 cases of cryptococcosis in children, diagnosed in Belém, PA. In nine patients the variety of the etiologic agent was studied and identified as Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii. The average age of these patients was 7.8 years (range, 5-13 years) There were 5 girls and 4 boys (ratio, 1.25:1). Amphotericin B treatment (associated with fluconazole 3 or fluocytosine 1) was given but five (56%) of these patients died in the following three months. The existence of highly endemic areas of infection by var. gattii in Pará, Brazil and the severity of the disease due to this fungal variety are commented.