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:
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 that is contaminated with feces (stool). People at higher risk include:
Outbreaks have been linked to:
Some outbreaks have been very large.
Symptoms of infection include:
There are several treatments for cryptosporidium enteritis.
Medicines such as nitazoxanide have been used in children and adults. Other medicines that are sometimes used include:
These medicines often help only for a little while. It is common for the infection to return.
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 highly active antiviral therapy. Using this type of treatment can lead to a complete remission of cryptosporidium enteritis.
Jeffrey Goerss is an Emergency Medicine specialist and a General Practice doctor in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Dr. Goerss has been practicing medicine for over 43 years and is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Cryptosporidium Enteritis. He is also highly rated in 55 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cryptosporidium Enteritis, Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism. He is licensed to treat patients in Iowa.
Richard Brittingham is an Internal Medicine doctor in Lawton, Oklahoma. Dr. Brittingham has been practicing medicine for over 32 years and is rated as an Advanced doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Cryptosporidium Enteritis. He is also highly rated in 55 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, and Chronic Pain. He is licensed to treat patients in Oklahoma. Dr. Brittingham is currently accepting new patients.
Mehdi Hakimipour is a Hospital Medicine specialist and an Internal Medicine doctor in Reedley, California. Dr. Hakimipour has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and is rated as an Advanced doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Cryptosporidium Enteritis. He is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Sepsis, Cryptosporidium Enteritis, and Atypical Pneumonia. He is licensed to treat patients in California. Dr. Hakimipour is currently accepting new patients.
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:
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.
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Published Date : March 04, 2020
Published By : Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Huston CD. Intestinal protozoa. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 113.
Warren CA, Lima AAM. Cryptosporidiosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 329.
White AC. Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium species). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 282.