High prevalence of Cryptosporidium in young children with prolonged diarrhea.
A prospective study was done to identify Cryptosporidium in the stools of young children, aged 2 months to 3 years, admitted to hospital. Of a total of 387 stool samples from 387 individuals, 131 stool specimens forming the control group were from children with non-diarrheal, respiratory tract infections, 200 and 56 stool samples were from children with acute diarrhea and prolonged diarrhea, respectively. No Cryptosporidium was discovered in the control group. Only 1 sample positive for Cryptosporidium was found in the group with acute diarrhea, whereas 4 samples of Cryptosporidium were found in the group with prolonged diarrhea. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in the group with prolonged diarrhea was significantly higher than the other two groups (p < 0.05). In those children with prolonged diarrhea, Cryptosporidium should always be included in the differential diagnosis.
Jirapinyo
P
P
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ruangsiri
K
K
Tesjaroen
S
S
Limsathayourat
N
N
Sripiangjan
J
J
Yoolek
A
A
Junnoo
V
V
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000469:parasitology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000469:parasitology; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors