Cryptosporidium infection in children with acute diarrhoea
Singh, B.K.; Gulati, A.K.; Prasad, K.N.; Singla, P.N.
Journal of Communicable Diseases 20(2): 136-140
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5138 PMID: 3241073 Document Number: 152
Faecal specimens from 100 diarrhoeal and 50 non-diarrhoeal children aged 6-36 months were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. The parasite was detected in 3 percent (3 cases) of the diarrhoeal children. In 2 cases it was the sole enteropathogen while in the other its association with Escherichia coli was observed. The infection clinically manifested as watery diarrhoea with or without mucous and mild to moderate dehydration. Faecal samples from none of the non-diarrhoeal group was positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Other enteropathogens detected in diarrhoeal children were rotavirus (17 per cent), parasites other than Cryptosporidium (6 per cent), fungi (Candida sp. 15 per cent) and mixed pathogens (17 per cent). In the control children entero-pathogens isolated were rotaviruses (4 per cent), bacteria (2 per cent), parasite (8 per cent) and Candida sp. (4 per cent). These observations demonstrate the presence of infection with Cryptosporidium in children with acute diarrhoea in the population.
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