title: Cryptosporidiosis: a cause of diarrhea in Bangladesh.
abstract: Fecal samples from diarrheal patients and non-diarrheal controls were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts in a year-long prospective study at a diarrhea treatment center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 42 (3%) of 1,382 diarrheal patients but in none of 235 non-diarrheal controls. In 32 (76%) of 42 patients, no other enteropathogens were detected. Children less than 5 years of age were more commonly infected than older children (4.8% vs. 1.6%, P greater than 0.05) and adults (4.8% vs. 0.2%, P less than 0.01). A higher number of cases were detected during hot and humid months (April--July). Nineteen children less than 5 years of age (index cases) and their 71 family members were followed for 3 weeks after the release of the index cases from the hospital. Diarrhea continued for greater than 14 days (persistent diarrhea) in 8 (32%) index children. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 1 (12.5%) of 8 family members who developed diarrhea during the follow-up period. Index cases excreted oocysts for 3-28 days (12.37 +/- 8.35 days). Almost all the patients recovered with oral rehydration. Cryptosporidium ssp. cause self-limited diarrhea episodes in children less than 5 years of age in Bangladesh, with a low frequency of intrafamilial transmission.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Sciences Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hossain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons