Cryptosporidium EnteritisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Cryptosporidium Enteritis
Cryptosporidium enteritis is an infection of the small intestine that causes diarrhea. The parasite cryptosporidium causes this infection.
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidium has recently been recognized as a cause of diarrhea worldwide in all age groups. It has a greater effect on people with a weakened immune system, including:
- People who take medicines to suppress their immune system
- People with HIV/AIDS
- Transplant recipients
In these groups, this infection is not just bothersome, but can lead to severe and life-threatening loss of muscle and body mass (wasting) and malnutrition.
The major risk factor is drinking water contaminated with stool (feces). People at higher risk include:
- Animal handlers
- People who are in close contact with infected people
- Young children
Outbreaks have been linked to:
- Drinking from contaminated public water supplies
- Drinking unpasteurized cider
- Swimming in contaminated pools and lakes
Some outbreaks have been very large.
Symptoms of infection include:
- Abdominal cramping
- Diarrhea, which is often watery, non-bloody, large-volume, and occurs many times a day
- General sick feeling (malaise)
- Malnutrition and weight loss (in severe and prolonged cases)
- Nausea
There are several treatments for cryptosporidium enteritis.
The best approach is to improve immune function in people who have a weakened immune system. In people with HIV/AIDS, this can be done by using HIV-antiviral medicines. Using this type of treatment can lead to a complete remission of cryptosporidium enteritis.
Medicines such as nitazoxanide have been used in children and adults. Other medicines that are sometimes used include:
- Nitazoxanide
- Paromomycin
These medicines often help only for a little while. It is common for the infection to return.
Aurora Family Medicine
Daniel Allison is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Waterford, Wisconsin. He has been practicing medicine for over 17 years. Dr. Allison is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cryptosporidium Enteritis. His clinical expertise encompasses Chronic Cough, Vertigo, Hypothyroidism, and Bacterial Meningitis. Dr. Allison is board certified in American Board Of Family Medicine.
Avera Acute Care — O’Neill
Matthew Winkelbauer is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in O'neill, Nebraska. Dr. Winkelbauer is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cryptosporidium Enteritis. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Acute Cystitis, Ataxia-Telangiectasia, and Familial Hypertension. Dr. Winkelbauer is board certified in American Board Of Family Medicine.
Yankton Medical Clinic Avera
Tyler L. Hanson is an internal medicine physician at Yankton Medical Clinic. Dr. Hanson is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cryptosporidium Enteritis. He is also highly rated in 24 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Anemia, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Endoscopy, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Hanson is board certified in Board Eligible Internal Medicine.
In healthy people, the infection will clear up, but it can last up to a month. In people with a weakened immune system, long-term diarrhea may cause weight loss and malnutrition.
These complications can occur:
- Inflammation of a bile duct
- Inflammation of the gallbladder
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
- Malabsorption (not enough nutrients being absorbed from the intestinal tract)
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Loss of body mass that causes extreme thinness and weakness (wasting syndrome)
Contact your health care provider if you develop watery diarrhea that does not go away within a few days, especially if you have a weakened immune system.
Proper sanitation and hygiene, including handwashing, are important measures for preventing this illness.
Certain water filters can also reduce risk by filtering out the cryptosporidium eggs. However, the pores of the filter must be smaller than 1 micron to be effective. If you have a weakened immune system, ask your provider if you need to boil your water.
Published Date: March 01, 2026
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Caravedo MA, Tanabe MB, White AC. Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium species). In: Blaser MJ, Cohen JI, Holland SM, et al, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 288.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. About Crypto infections. www.cdc.gov/cryptosporidium/about/index.html. Updated May 27, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2026.
Fleckenstein JM. Approach to the patient with suspected enteric infection. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 262.
Warren CA, Lima AAM. Cryptosporidiosis. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 321.