What is Cryptosporidiosis?
Cryptosporidiosis, commonly called "Crypto," is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Cryptosporidium. During the past two decades, Crypto has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne disease within humans in the United States. The parasite may be found in drinking water and recreational water in every region of the United States and throughout the world.
What are the symptoms of Crypto?
Some people with Crypto will have no symptoms at all. The most common symptom of Cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms include:
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
- Stomach cramps or pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
How long after exposure do symptoms appear and how long will symptoms last?
Symptoms may begin two to 10 days after becoming infected, with an average of seven days. In persons with healthy immune systems, symptoms usually last about one to two weeks. The symptoms may go in cycles in which you may seem to get better for a few days, then feel worse again before the illness ends.
Who is susceptible to Crypto?
All people are presumed susceptible to infection with Cryptosporidium. However, immunocompromised persons (those with weak immune systems) may have severe and long lasting illness. Some examples of immunocompromised people are those receiving cancer chemotherapy, kidney dialysis or steroid therapy, people with HIV/AIDS and patients with inherited diseases that affect the immune system.
How is the disease contracted?
Cryptosporidium lives in the intestine of infected humans or animals. Millions of Crypto germs can be released in a bowel movement from an infected human or animal. Consequently, Cryptosporidium is found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with infected human or animal feces. If a person swallows the parasite they become infected. You cannot become infected through contact with blood.
The parasite can be spread by:
- Accidentally putting something into your mouth or swallowing something that has come into contact with feces of a person or animal infected with Cryptosporidium.
- Swallowing recreational water contaminated with Cryptosporidium (Recreational water includes water in swimming pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis, fountains, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, or streams that can be contaminated with sewage or feces from humans or animals.) Note: Cryptosporidium can survive for days in swimming pools with adequate chlorine levels.
- Eating uncooked food contaminated with Cryptosporidium. Thoroughly wash with clean, safe water all vegetables and fruits you plan to eat raw.
- Accidentally swallowing Cryptosporidium picked up from surfaces (such as bathroom fixtures, changing tables, diaper pails, or toys) contaminated with feces from an infected person.
How is Cryptosporidiosis diagnosed?
Your health care provider will ask you to submit stool samples to see if you are infected. Because testing for Crypto can be difficult, you may be asked to submit several stool specimens over several days. Tests for Crypto are not routinely done in most laboratories; therefore, your health care provider should specifically request testing for the parasite.
How is Cryptosporidiosis treated?
A drug marketed under the name Alinia has been approved for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium in people with healthy immune systems. Consult with your health care provider for more information. Most people who have a healthy immune system will recover without treatment. The symptoms of diarrhea can be treated. If you have diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Rapid loss of fluids from diarrhea may be especially life threatening to babies; therefore, parents should talk to their health care provider about fluid replacement therapy options for infants. Antidiarrheal medicine may help slow down diarrhea, but talk to your health care provider before taking it.
People who are in poor health or who have a weakened immune system are at higher risk for more severe and more prolonged illness. The effectiveness of Alinia in immunosuppressed individuals is unclear. For persons with AIDS, anti-retroviral therapy that improves immune status will also decrease or eliminate symptoms of Crypto. However, even if symptoms disappear, Cryptosporidiosis is usually not curable and the symptoms may return if the immune status worsens. See your health care provider to discuss anti-retroviral therapy used to improve your immune status.
How can I avoid getting and transmitting Cryptosporidiosis?
Cryptosporidiosis can be very contagious. You can reduce your risk of getting Crypto by taking the following steps:
- Drink safe water.
- Wash your hands often.
- Practice safer sex.
- Avoid touching farm animals.
- Avoid touching the stool of pets.
- Avoid swallowing water when swimming in the ocean, lakes, rivers, or pools, and when using hot tubs.
- Wash and/or thoroughly cook your food.
How can I avoid transmitting Cryptosporidiosis?
- Do not swim when you have diarrehea.
- Do not return to swimming for two weeks after having diarrhea.
- Wash your child thoroughly with soap and water before swimming. Everyone has invisible amounts of fecal matter on their bottoms that end up in the pool.
- Change diapers in a bathroom and not at poolside.Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean it’s too late.
- Wash your hands often.
What should I do if I think I have Crypto?
Contact your health care provider immediately.