Cryptosporidium Infection Cryptosporidiosis : Part 2

by CDC

(Page 2 of 2)

What is the treatment for cryptosporidiosis?

A new drug, nitazoxanide, has been approved for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium in people with healthy immune systems. Consult with your health care provider for more information. Most people who have a healthy immune system will recover without treatment. The symptoms of diarrhea can be treated. If you have diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Rapid loss of fluids from diarrhea may be especially life threatening to babies; therefore, parents should talk to their health care provider about fluid replacement therapy options for infants. Anti-diarrheal medicine may help slow down diarrhea, but talk to your health care provider before taking it.

People who are in poor health or who have a weakened immune system are at higher risk for more severe and more prolonged illness. The effectiveness of nitazoxanide in immunosuppressed individuals is unclear. For persons with AIDS, anti-retroviral therapy that improves immune status will also decrease or eliminate symptoms of Crypto. However, even if symptoms disappear, cryptosporidiosis is usually not curable and the symptoms may return if the immune status worsens. See your health care provider to discuss anti-retroviral therapy used to improve your immune status.

If I have been diagnosed with Cryptosporidium , should I worry about spreading the infection to others?

Yes, Cryptosporidium can be very contagious. Follow these guidelines to avoid spreading the disease to others:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food.

2. Do not swim in recreational water (pools, hot tubs, lakes or rivers, the ocean, etc.) if you have cryptosporidiosis and for at least 2 weeks after diarrhea stops. You can pass Cryptosporidium in your stool and contaminate water for several weeks after your symptoms have ended. This has resulted in outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis among recreational water users.

Note: Cryptosporidium can be spread in a chlorinated pool because it is resistant to chlorine and, therefore, can live for days in chlorine-treated swimming pools.

3. Avoid fecal exposure during sexual activity.

How can I prevent cryptosporidiosis?

Practice good hygiene.

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Wash hands after using the toilet and before handling or eating food (especially for persons with diarrhea). Wash hands after every diaper change, especially if you work with diaper-aged children, even if you are wearing gloves.

2. Protect others by not swimming if you are experiencing diarrhea (essential for children in diapers).

Avoid water that might be contaminated.

• Do not swallow recreational water
• Do not drink untreated water from shallow wells, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, and streams.
• Do not drink untreated water during community-wide outbreaks of disease caused by contaminated drinking water.
• Do not use untreated ice or drinking water when traveling in countries where the water supply might be unsafe.

In the United States , nationally distributed brands of bottled or canned carbonated soft drinks are safe to drink. Commercially packaged non-carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices that do not require refrigeration until after they are opened (those that are stored unrefrigerated on grocery shelves) also are safe.

If you are unable to avoid using or drinking water that might be contaminated, then you can make the water safe to drink by doing one of the following:

Heat the water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute or use a filter that has an absolute pore size of at least 1 micron or one that has been NSF rated for "cyst removal."

Do not rely on chemicals to disinfect water and kill Cryptosporidium. Because it has a thick outer shell, this particular parasite is highly resistant to disinfectants such as chlorine and iodine.

Avoid food that might be contaminated.

1. Wash and/or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.

2. Use safe, uncontaminated water to wash all food that is to be eaten raw.

3. Avoid eating uncooked foods when traveling in countries with minimal water treatment and sanitation systems.

Take extra care when traveling.

If you travel to developing nations, you may be at a greater risk for Cryptosporidium infection because of poorer water treatment and food sanitation. Warnings about food, drinks, and swimming are even more important when visiting developing countries. Avoid foods and drinks, in particular raw fruits and vegetables, tap water, or ice made from tap water, unpasteurized milk or dairy products, and items purchased from street vendors. These items may be contaminated with Cryptosporidium. Steaming-hot foods, fruits you peel yourself, bottled and canned processed drinks, and hot coffee or hot tea are probably safe. Talk with your health care provider about other guidelines for travel abroad.

Avoid fecal exposure during sexual activity.

About the Author

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.