Cryptosporidium infection

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Definition

Cryptosporidium infection (cryptosporidiosis) is a gastrointestinal disease whose primary symptom is diarrhea. The illness begins when a tiny one-celled parasite enters your body and travels to your small intestine. Cryptosporidium, which means "hidden spore," then begins its life cycle inside your body — burrowing into the walls of your intestines and then later being shed in your feces.

In most healthy people, cryptosporidium infection produces a bout of watery diarrhea and resolves within a week or two. For people with a compromised immune system, it can become life-threatening without proper treatment. Complications include dehydration due to severe diarrhea, malnutrition and weight loss. The infection may also spread beyond your intestines.

Cryptosporidium infection is transmitted when you come in contact with soil, food, water or surfaces that have been touched by contaminated human or animal feces. Options for treatment of cryptosporidium infection focus on alleviating diarrhea and boosting the immune response.

About 3,000 cases of cryptosporidium infection are reported each year in the United States. Incidence of the illness is higher in children than adults, and it's also more likely to affect people with HIV infection. Prevention measures include good hygiene and avoiding drinking water that hasn't been boiled or filtered.

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