Abstract
Cryptosporidiasis usually is diagnosed in immunodeficient patients. We investigated the incidence in childhood diarrhoea. METHODS: stool coloration alcohol-acid resistent technique. We studied 20 primary and secondary immunodeficient patients with diarrhoea (group A); 43 cases attending a day care center during a gastroenteritis outbreak {group B) and 40 cases with acute diarrhoea (group C).
RESULTS: feces were positive for cryptosporidium in: group A: 2 children; the parasite was also found in jejunal mucosa; only 1 responded to Spyramicine. Group B: 17 cases; 2 had low IgA levels; the diarrhoea lasted from 1 week to 2 months and cured without treatment. Group C: 9 children; all were immunologically normal and cured without treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: because of this high incidence, cryptosporidium should be investigated in childhood diarrhoea, even in children with a normal immunological status.
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Tormo, R., Infante, D., Panadés, D. et al. CRYPTOSPORIDIASIS IN CHILDHOOD DIARRHOEA. Pediatr Res 20, 703 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198607000-00106
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198607000-00106