title: Burden of diarrhea, hospitalization and mortality due to cryptosporidial infections in Indian children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptosporidium spp. is a common, but under-reported cause of childhood diarrhea throughout the world, especially in developing countries. A comprehensive estimate of the burden of cryptosporidiosis in resource-poor settings is not available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We used published and unpublished studies to estimate the burden of diarrhea, hospitalization and mortality due to cryptosporidial infections in Indian children. Our estimates suggest that annually, one in every 6-11 children <2 years of age will have an episode of cryptosporidial diarrhea, 1 in every 169-633 children will be hospitalized and 1 in every 2890-7247 children will die due to cryptosporidiosis. Since there are approximately 42 million children <2 years of age in India, it is estimated that Cryptosporidium results in 3.9-7.1 million diarrheal episodes, 66.4-249.0 thousand hospitalizations, and 5.8-14.6 thousand deaths each year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study suggest a high burden of cryptosporidiosis among children <2 years of age in India and makes a compelling case for further research on transmission and prevention modalities of Cryptosporidium spp. in India and other developing countries.
authors: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Rajiv
authors: R
authors: Sarkar
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors: Jacqueline E
authors: JE
authors: Tate
authors: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Sitara S R
authors: SS
authors: Ajjampur
authors: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Deepthi
authors: D
authors: Kattula
authors: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: John
authors: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors: Honorine D
authors: HD
authors: Ward
authors: Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Gagandeep
authors: G
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn