Two year study of cryptosporidium infection.
During a two year period 48 children admitted to hospitals in the Blackburn district were found to have cryptosporidium in stool samples. Cryptosporidium accounted for 6% of the 742 cases of childhood gastroenteritis, being as common as campylobacter. Altogether, 89% of children with cryptosporidiosis had diarrhoea, which was usually offensive and watery, and 80% vomited, the mean duration of both symptoms being six days. A substantial proportion were moderately ill with dehydration and persistent vomiting. Over half of all cases were aged 2 years or more and 37% were over 5 years. Most of the ill children were over 2 years, in contrast with other cases of gastroenteritis. Eight children were less than the 3rd centile for weight and three of these were investigated for failure to thrive. Only 6% of cases occurred in Asian children, but Asians accounted for 32% of all admissions with gastroenteritis and 59% of admissions with shigella. This unexpected ethnic difference may be due to limited contact with animals among Asians or to differences in diet.
D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004739:England; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012621:Seasons; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology