Cryptosporidium infections in children in Durban. Seasonal variation, age distribution and disease status.
One hundred and eleven of 1,229 children (9%) aged less than 10 years admitted to King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, with gastro-enteritis over a period of 1 year were found to harbour Cryptosporidium. Of these, 96 (89.7%) were less than 2 years of age. Cryptosporidium was the only potential pathogen identified in 80 of these patients (6.5%). The prevalence in paediatric patients without gastro-enteritis was 2.4% (3/124). During the study period Cryptosporidium infections were significantly more prevalent during the high rainfall season (P = 0.03).
Moodley
D
D
Research Institute for Diseases in a Tropical Environment South African Medical Research Council, Durban.
Jackson
T F
TF
Gathiram
V
V
van den Ende
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012621:Seasons; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology