CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS

Cryptosporidiosis or crypto is a highly transmittable intestinal infection. It occurs due to exposure to parasites called “cryptosporidium,” which live in the animals and human intestine and are shed via stool. 

You can be infected after coincidentally swallowing the cryptosporidium parasite. This parasite can be found in the water, food, surfaces, or soil that have been infected with the stools from infected animals or humans.

Furthermore, cryptosporidiosis cannot be spread out by exposure to blood. In addition, you may also be infected through:

  • Swallowing water from lakes, pools, springs, streams, fountains, rivers, or ponds infected with crypto;
  • Placing a contaminated object on your mouth;
  • Eating raw foods that are infected with parasites;
  • Consuming drinks that are exposed to the stool of infected animals or humans;
  • Holding your mouth with infected hands; and
  • Exposure to a person’s stool through sexual contact.

SYMPTOMS

The most common symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include:

  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Stomach cramps
  • Vomiting
  • Frequent diarrhea
  • Watery diarrhea

Symptoms usually start within a week of contamination and can last for two weeks. Nevertheless, in some research, symptoms usually continue for 2 to 3 years.  

If the symptoms are left untreated for a long time, the person might be at the verge of weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration. To people with weak immune systems, especially those who have HIV or cancer, this can be considered as a life-threatening sentence. 

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose crypto, your doctor may do a physical exam, ask you about your symptoms, medical history, and if you’ve had any exposure to human or animal feces. 

If your doctor thinks you have crypto, they will request a sample of your feces for laboratory testing. Several samples might need to be observed since Cryptosporidium parasites are very tiny and hard to detect under a microscope. This could make the infection challenging to diagnose. 

TREATMENT

A person infected with crypto must drink more fluid to fight the dehydrating effects of serious diarrhea. If dehydration continues and gets severe, a person might need to be hospitalized and given IV fluids. 

Your healthcare provider might prescribe anti-diarrheal medications, yet it is only helpful for people with strong immune systems. Moreover, those people with weak immune systems may be given medications to boost their immune systems as a means of combating the infection.

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