Fact Sheet Number 502
|
this Fact Sheet on a single page using: |
|
|
Word |
|
|
More information on Downloading & Printing Fact Sheets |
|
PrintCryptosporidiosis (Crypto) is an infection. It is caused by the
parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. Parasites get their nutrients
from another living organism (the host). Crypto mainly affects
the intestines and causes diarrhea.
Crypto is easily spread by contaminated food or water, or direct
contact with an infected person or animal. About 15% to 20% of
people with AIDS are infected with crypto. Only some of these
infections lead to serious disease.
Crypto causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
In people with healthy immune systems, these symptoms do not last
more than about a week. See Fact Sheet
554 for more information on diarrhea.
However, crypto may continue for a long time if the immune
system is damaged. This usually happens with T-cell
counts below 300. If crypto continues for 4 weeks or more
insomeone with HIV, they have AIDS according to the guidelines
of the Centers for Disease Control.
Diarrhea can interfere with the absorption of nutrients. If
it continues for a long time, you can develop serious weight loss
(wasting, see Fact Sheet 518).
Several diseases cause similar problems. To confirm a diagnosis,
doctors usually check your stool (bowel movement) for parasites
and their eggs. This is called an “O and P” or “ova
and parasites” test.
PREVENTED?
There is no medication that prevents crypto.
The best protection is cleanliness. Avoid contact with human
or animal wastes. Wash your hands after using the bathroom, gardening,
handling dirty laundry or animals, or changing diapers. Crypto
can be transmitted through oral-anal sexual activity. Swallowing
or swimming in water contaminated with human or animal waste can
also expose you. Raw oysters may carry crypto.
In some cities the public water supply is contaminated with
crypto. Check with your water department. If there is a problem,
and if your T-cell count is below 300, consider the following
steps:
- Boil drinking or cooking water for one minute; or
- Drink bottled water; or
- Drink filtered water: Use a home filter labeled “1-micron
filter” or “Meets National Science Foundation (NSF)
standard number 53 for cyst removal;” or
- Drink distilled water. Bottled water may not be safe unless
it has been boiled or filtered correctly.
TREATED?
There is no drug treatment that clears up crypto. Several drugs
are being tested. These include paromomycin (Humatin), azithromycin
(Zithromax), latrazuril, and atovaquone (Mepron).
The most promising drug to fight crypto is nitazoxanide. It
helped about half of the people who took it in a research study.
Unfortunately, development of nitazoxanide was stopped after the
FDA withheld approval of the drug.
We can’t get rid of the crypto infection. However, there are
ways to control the diarrhea it causes. These include Imodium,
Kaopectate, and similar preparations. Serious, ongoing diarrhea
is sometimes treated with Sandostatin.
Another product, bovine colostrum concentrate (Sporidin-G),
is being tested for controlling diarrhea caused by crypto.
Cryptosporidium is a fairly common parasite.
It is found in animals, humans, soil, and water. It can be transmitted
easily.
In people with normal immune systems, crypto causes diarrhea
and other stomach problems for about a week. In people with less
than 300 T-cells, the diarrhea may continue.
The best way to prevent infection by crypto is frequent hand
washing. If your local water supply is contaminated with crypto,
use only boiled or filtered water for cooking and drinking.
Several drugs are being studied to fight crypto, but none are
approved yet.
Chronic diarrhea due to crypto should be controlled in order
to avoid more serious problems like wasting.
Reviewed November 24, 2002
Goto InfoNet Main Page
Go toIndex of Fact Sheets
Clickhere if you have questions
New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center
and the New Mexico Department of Health