When meningitis is caused by a fungus, it’s called fungal meningitis. Compared with bacterial and viral meningitis, fungal meningitis is rare. Fungal meningitis can be caused by several types of fungus, such as Cryptococcus, Blastomyces, Histoplasma, Coccidioides, Aspergillus, Candida, and a variety of molds.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that causes many of these cases. This fungus lives in the soil and can get into the human body when a person breathes in dust or dried bird droppings. It does not seem to spread from person to person. The majority of people with this type of meningitis have immune systems that are damaged by disease (such as AIDS), or suppressed by medications. When it occurs, fungal meningitis is treated with antifungal medications.