Cryptosporidium is a species of cryptosporidia organism that can cause an intestinal and respiratory infection that primarily involves either a watery mucous diarrhea or a persistent cough in immunocompromised and immuno-compromised individuals. It has become a significant public health concern in the US and other western countries. In recent years, cryptosporidium has been implicated in outbreaks of diarrhea and abdominal illnesses that have spread across the United States.
Cryptosporidiosis is most prevalent in the US states of California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. There have also been outbreaks in Canada and Europe. In some cases, cryptosporidiosis may be fatal in humans, especially in immunosuppressive patients. Most people who contract this condition experience no more than one episode of diarrhea; however, there are rare reports that have reported multiple episodes of diarrhea in patients with immunosuppression. Cryptosporidiosis is typically transmitted by contact with contaminated body fluids such as sputum, saliva, urine, or stool.
Most people experience symptoms that include a severe degree of abdominal discomfort including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. If untreated, these symptoms can progress to include serious illness including seizures, coma, and even death.
The best way to prevent an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis is to notify your medical care provider if you develop diarrhea
For those who experience repeated episodes of diarrhea, health care providers recommend that patients receive a series of tests to confirm that the symptoms are from a cryptosporidiosis outbreak. These tests include urinalysis, blood culture, and culture of sputum. In cases of acute diarrhea, doctors will generally prescribe antibiotics for prevention.
Because cryptosporidiosis is not curable, medical care providers advise that the patient be aware of symptoms and seek medical attention when possible. There are specific treatment options that involve avoiding contamination of food or water, disinfecting personal items, and changing bedding and clothing as soon as possible. In more severe cases of cryptosporidiosis, blood transfusion is considered.
Medical care providers encourage people to practice safe food and water choices at home to avoid spreading cryptosporidium to others. When traveling internationally, travelers are encouraged to wash their hands often in hot water before eating or during excursions.
Health care providers generally recommend that people infected with cryptosporidium contact their medical care provider's office for proper diagnosis, treatment, and support to reduce symptoms, minimize risk of future outbreaks, and promote long-term recovery. Although cryptosporidium cannot be transmitted sexually, health care providers suggest that sexual partners who suspect that they might be infected seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent recurrences.
Health care providers advise that people should also practice good hand hygiene when caring for themselves by washing their hands thoroughly after using public restrooms, washing their hands thoroughly after touching pets, and keeping all household items and personal items as far away from the bathroom as possible. Health care providers also recommend that people who have recently traveled to regions of the world where cryptosporidium is common practice to wear disposable plastic gloves and apply insect repellents to clothing, bed linens, and toys.
As the disease progresses, symptoms may include: abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, fever, chills, weakness, aches, fatigue, skin rashes, hair loss, abdominal bleeding, and muscle pain. Treatment options may include intravenous or oral antifungal medications.
In most cases of cryptosporidium, symptoms can be treated at the health care provider's office. However, if symptoms worsen or recur after a short time, or if people become severely ill, health care providers may recommend testing for anemia, liver failure, jaundice, or hyperthyroidism in order to make a definitive diagnosis.
Treatment may include hospitalization and intravenous chemotherapy or antibiotics
Health care providers are not aware of any natural cures for this condition but believe that drinking distilled water or eating garlic, onions and other foods that contain cryptosporidium can help to kill the microbe. A healthy person's stool should be tested to be sure that it does not contain cryptosporidium. Testing is typically performed every two weeks to monitor an outbreak. If symptoms recur after a series of tests have been performed, the patient should be checked by a medical doctor or health care provider to determine whether further testing is necessary.
After a series of tests have been conducted to rule out anemia, cancer, or other serious conditions, health care providers will provide a prescription for anti-diarrheals to help the patient avoid complications from their infection. If the infection is not caused by an underlying medical condition, treatments will depend on the amount of cryptosporidium ingested and its mode of transmission.