Cryptosporidium infection in children with diarrhoea of acute onset.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium an intracellular coccidian parasite has been reported worldwide as an important cause of diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals and has emerged as a serious public health problem. The parasite was also identified as a major cause of waterborne epidemics of gastroenteritis in developed nations. In this background the present study was undertaken to assess the incidence of Cryptosporidium and other newer protozoan parasites in children suffering from acute diarrhea in eastern Nepal. Stool examinations of 160 children complaints of acute diarrhea revealed a 5.6% incidence of Cryptosporidium among the children in the study. The children presented with acute watery diarrhea which closely resembled the symptoms of viral diarrhea. Overall this study highlights the importance of Cryptosporidium as a cause of acute diarrhea in children. Since Cryptosporidiosis is self-limiting with supportive therapy and it is therefore suggested that the introduction of a simple technique as part of a routine diagnostics in all clinical laboratories contribute to avoiding the misuse of antibiotics.