title: Cryptosporidium, chronic diarrhoea and the proximal small intestinal mucosa.
abstract: The association between Cryptosporidium, chronic diarrhoea and a proximal small intestinal mucosal enteropathy was reviewed over a six and a half year period. One hundred and twenty three children with cryptosporidiosis and no clinical evidence of immune deficiency were identified. 50% of children excreting only Cryptosporidium had chronic diarrhoea. Most cases (63%) of chronic diarrhoea occurred in the first two years of life. A mild to moderate enteropathy was present in all nine children undergoing a small intestinal biopsy and seven showed the presence of Cryptosporidium adhering to villous epithelium. All patients eventually recovered spontaneously. Cryptosporidium is a cause of chronic diarrhoea and a proximal small intestinal mucosal enteropathy in children without immune deficiency. Screening for the parasite should be part of the investigative procedures in children with chronic diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopy Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, London.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Walker-Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies