Cryptospiridosis
Description
Cryptospiridosis is a disease caused by the microscopic parasite Cryptosporidium. When the parasite enters the body, most often through the mouth, it reaches the small intestine and then enters its wall. Subsequently, the Cryptosporidium began to be excreted in the feces.
In most healthy people, it causes a bout of watery diarrhea and the infection usually resolves within 1-2 weeks. In a weakened immune system, worming can be life-threatening if not treated appropriately .
You can prevent Cryptosporidium worming by maintaining good personal hygiene and avoiding swallowing water from swimming pools, recreational water facilities, lakes and mountain streams.
What are the symptoms?
The first signs and symptoms of worm infestation usually appear within about a week after exposure to the parasite:
• Frequent bowel movements that produce watery stools;
• Dehydration;
• Lack of appetite;
• Weight loss;
• Stomach cramps and pain;< br/> • Fever, nausea and vomiting;
Disease symptoms subside within 2 weeks, although sporadic manifestations lasting up to 1 month are possible, even in people with a healthy immune system. Some people may not experience any symptoms at all.
When should we seek medical attention?
Seek medical attention if you develop watery diarrhea and it does not go away within a few days.
What are the causes?
The disease begins with the ingestion of the single-celled parasite Cryptosporidium, and some strains of it can lead to more serious disease. Once they enter the intestinal wall, they begin to multiply and are then excreted in the faeces in huge quantities which are highly infectious.
You can get Cryptosporidium from anything that has been in contact with infected feces. The ways of infection are:
• Contaminated drinking water that contains the parasite;
• Swimming in infested water and accidental ingestion;
• Eating raw food contaminated with the parasite;< br/> • Touching the mouth with a hand that has previously been in contact with an infected surface;
• In close contact with other infected people and animals – especially their faeces, which allows the parasite to be transmitted from hand to mouth.
If your immune system is weakened by diseases such as AIDS, youare more susceptible to infection with Cryptosporidium than someone with a healthy immune system. People with AIDS can develop severe symptoms and chronic and persistent a form of the disease that can be very difficult to treat.
Cryptosporidium parasites are the most common cause of diarrhea in humans. Its destruction is difficult because it is very resistant to many chlorine-based disinfectants and cannot be effectively removed by most filters. The parasite can survive in the environment for months at different temperatures but is destroyed by freezing and boiling.
Cryptospiridosis treatment
There is no specific treatment and cure depends largely on the health of the immune system. Most healthy people recover in about 2 weeks without the need for medical attention. If the parasite’s immune system is weak, the disease can continue and lead to severe dehydration. The aim of the treatment is to relieve the symptoms and also to support the body’s immune response.
The most commonly used drugs are anti-parasitic drugs such as nitazoxanide, which attacks the metabolism of the parasites and as a result, the patients’ diarrhea is relieved. When the patient’s immune system is damaged, azithromycin is also prescribed.
