What Are the Different Types of Cryptosporidiosis Treatment?

Cryptosporidium is an infectious disease called Cryptosporidium parvum, and other species of Cryptosporidium also occasionally cause the disease. Symptoms usually appear about 7 days after infection and include abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Most patients have symptoms for 6-10 days, but they can also last for weeks. Patients with immunocompromised conditions can be very serious and even life threatening.

Basic Information

English name: cryptosporidiosis
Visiting department: Department of Infectious and Clinical Microbiology
Common causes: Caused by Cryptosporidium parvum

Common symptoms: Abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, vomiting and fever
Contagious: Have
way for spreading: Spread by animals

Causes of Cryptosporidium

At least six species of Cryptosporidium have been identified, and almost all Cryptosporidium infections in humans and mammals are caused by Cryptosporidium parvum.

Clinical manifestations of cryptosporidiosis

Acute gastroenteritis

Most patients with normal immune function are acute gastroenteritis. Diarrhea, 4 to 10 times a day, pasty stools or watery, occasionally a small amount of pus and blood, may have a foul smell. Often accompanied by epigastric discomfort, pain, and even nausea and vomiting. Partial fever. The course of the disease is self-limiting, and it usually resolves within 2 weeks. No recurrence and good prognosis.

2. Chronic diarrhea

It is mainly found in people with immune deficiency, especially those with AIDS. Slow onset, persistent diarrhea, watery stools, and large amounts, ranging from 1 to 10 liters per day, about 10 times a day. Occasionally bloody stools, often with abdominal pain, prone to dehydration, acidosis and hypokalemia, vitamin deficiency and so on. The course of disease can last for 3 to 4 months or even more than 1 year, and it can be repeated.

Cryptosporidium test

Fecal examination

Fecal microscopy showed white blood cells or pus cells, but no red blood cells and few phagocytic cells. The oocysts are found in the stool and are generally screened with auramine-phenol staining. When suspicious worms are suspected, an improved acid-fast staining method can be used.

2. Pathogen inspection

Collecting feces or vomit of patients, and checking Cryptosporidium oocysts is the main detection method. Can be directly smeared or concentrated method, special staining detection.

3. Immunological examination

ELISA was used to detect specific antibodies. IgM antibodies appear early but disappear quickly and are not easy to detect; IgG antibodies appear about two months after infection and can last for more than one year, which is suitable for epidemiological investigations. Immunofluorescence test (IFA) and monoclonal antibody determination, sensitivity and specificity are 100%.

4. Small bowel mucosal biopsy

If necessary, a small intestinal mucosal biopsy can be performed.

Cryptosporidiosis diagnosis

Diagnosis was based on epidemiological data, clinical manifestations, and laboratory tests. Any disease that causes acute and chronic diarrhea should be identified, especially bacterial infectious gastroenteritis.

Cryptosporidium treatment

Supportive treatment

Isolation according to intestinal infectious diseases, severe symptoms should be hospitalized, mild oral fluid replacement can be used. Patients with severe diarrhea can cause electrolyte balance disorders, which must be corrected. Those with low immune function should strengthen supportive treatment. Avoiding foods that contain more fat and lactose during an episode can help relieve symptoms. Patients with malnutrition and hypoproteinemia should also be treated symptomatically.

2. Pathogen treatment

To date, there are no effective anti-cryptosporidium drugs. It is believed that the drugs with a certain effect are spiramycin, clindamycin, azithromycin, allicin, etc.

3. Immunotherapy

In patients with immunocompromised Cryptosporidium, rebuilding their immune function as much as possible is the key to successful treatment.