[Cryptosporidiosis in children].
During January through June 1988, oocysts of Cryptosporidium were identified in fecal samples of 83 (7.7%) of 1073 children who presented with acute gastroenteritis. Other intestinal pathogens were less common: Salmonella 4.2%, E. coli 1.9%, Shigella 2.6% and Campylobacter jejuni 5.0%. Cryptosporidiosis (C) was more common under the age of 5 years than over (8.4% vs 1.8%, respectively, p less than 0.01). In 6 (7.2%) children with C, another stool pathogen was found. Frequent signs of C were diarrhea (85.4%), vomiting (36.3%) and fever (32.7%). Although no anticryptosporidial treatment was given, most children recovered within 5-9 days, but 6 had to be hospitalized: 4 were dehydrated and 5 had electrolyte imbalance. Repeated examination showed persistence of oocysts in the stools for up to 19 days. We conclude that C is a significant cause of gastroenteritis in Israeli children under the age of 5 years which occasionally requires hospitalization. We therefore recommend routine examination for C in cases of acute gastroenteritis.
Miron
D
D
Pediatric Dept. A, Central Emek Hospital, Afula.
Kenes
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007557:Israel
D003049:Coccidiostats