Cryptosporidium enteritis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Cryptosporidium enteritis is an infection of the small intestine that causes diarrhea. The parasite cryptosporidium causes this infection.

T Causes
P 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 or AIDS
- Transplant recipients
P In these groups, this infection is not just bothersome. It also can lead to severe and life-threatening loss of muscle and body mass (wasting) and malnutrition.
P The major risk factor is drinking water that is contaminated with feces (stool). People at higher risk include:
- Animal handlers
- Men who have sex with men
- People who are in close contact with infected people
- Young children
P Outbreaks have been linked to:
- Drinking from contaminated public water supplies
- Drinking unpasteurized cider
- Swimming in contaminated pools and lakes
P Some outbreaks have been very large.

T Symptoms
P Symptoms of infection include:
- Abdominal cramping
- Diarrhea, which is often watery, large-volume, and occurs many times a day
- General sick feeling (malaise)
- Malnutrition and weight loss (in severe cases)
- Nausea

T Exams and Tests
P These tests may be done:
- Antibody test to see if cryptosporidium is in the stool
- Intestinal biopsy (rare)
- Stool exam with special techniques (AFB staining)
- Stool exam using a microscope to look for the parasites and their eggs

T Treatment
P There are several treatments for cryptosporidium enteritis.
P Drugs such as nitazoxanide have been used in children and adults. Other drugs that are sometimes used include:
- Atovaquone
- Paromomycin
P These drugs often help only for a little while. It is common for the infection to return.
P The best approach is to improve immune function in people who have a weakened immune system. In people with AIDS, this can be done by using highly active antiviral therapy. It can lead to a complete remission of cryptosporidium enteritis.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P 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.

T Possible Complications
P 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)

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P 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.

T Prevention
P Proper sanitation and hygiene, including handwashing, are important measures for preventing this illness.
P 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.

T Alternative Names
P Cryptosporidiosis

T Images
- Cryptosporidium, organism
- Digestive system organs

T References
P Huston CD. Intestinal protozoa. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 113.
P Lima AAM, Guerrant RL. Cryptosporidiosis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 350.
P White AC Jr. Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium species). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 284.
P Wright SG. Protozoan infections of the gastrointestinal tract. Infect Dis Clin N Am. 2012;26(2):323-339. PMID: 22632642 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22632642.

T Review Date 3/13/2016
P Updated 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, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

