title: Acute, Severe Cryptosporidiosis in an Immunocompetent Pediatric Patient.
abstract: Severe diarrheal illness in children can be attributed to a number of different microbiological agents. Without appropriate microbiological testing of stool samples, patients who present with multiple days of severe diarrhea might have a delay in proper diagnosis and treatment. Here, we report a case of an immunocompetent pediatric patient presenting with acute cryptosporidiosis. Humans and bovine species are known hosts of cryptosporidium and several studies have evaluated the zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidium from cattle to humans. Adding diagnostic tests for cryptosporidium like Ziehl-Neelsen staining of stool or fecal rapid antigen detection techniques should be considered in the workup of patients presenting with undifferentiated, severe diarrheal illness, especially in those who have close contact with livestock.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tallant
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huddleston
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miami Health Systems , Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alshanberi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , Amarillo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Subhasis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Misra
keywords: Cryptosporidium; immune status; pediatric