Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Cryptosporidium enteritis is an infection of the small intestine with the parasite Cryptosporidium that causes diarrhea.
Alternative Names
Cryptosporidiosis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Cryptosporidium
has recently been recognized as a worldwide cause of
- People who take medications to suppress their immune system
- People with HIV or
AIDS - Transplant recipients
In these groups, this diarrheal infection is not just bothersome, but it also also can lead to severe and life-threatening loss of muscle and body mass (wasting) and malnutrition.
The major risk factor is swallowing water contaminated with fecal matter. Those at higher risk include:
- Animal handlers
- Men who have sex with men
- People in close contact with infected individuals
- Young children
Outbreaks have been linked to:
- Drinking from contaminated public water supplies
- Drinking unpasteurized cider
- Swimming in contaminated pools and lakes
Review Date: 05/25/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; 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. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
