Pulmonary cryptosporidiosis and AIDS. Presentation of a case and review of the literature
Brea Hernando, A.J.; Bandrés Franco, E.; Mosquera Lozano, J.D.; Lantero Benedito, M.; Ezquerra Lezcano, M.
Anales de Medicina Interna 10(5): 232-236
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-7199 PMID: 8518339 Document Number: 413715
Pulmonary cryptosporidiasis is a rare disease. However, following the advent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), this rare pathology infection by Cryptosporidium and we conduct a literature review. The Cryptosporidium can be detected with the routine technique used for the identification of mycobacterias in sputum: Zichl-Neelsen, auramine O, Kinyoun, etc. The most frequent sympthomatology includes chronic cough (91%), fever (59%) and dyspnea (64%). In 78% of cases, several respiratory infectious agents coexist, mainly P. carinii (47%) and Cytomegalovirus (41%). In 76% of cases, the infection is followed by diarrhea, detecting Cryptosporidium in the feces of 80% of these patients. The most frequent cause of death is respiratory failure. The radiologic evidences are not specific. The OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio has an average value of 0.3 (0.05-0.9). There is not any treatment truly effective.