Cryptosporidiosis

cryptosporidiosis; parasite; diarrhoea; diarrhea; crypto; infection; water; safe; drinking; gastroenteritis. ;

Contents

• What is cryptosporidiosis?
• How does it spread?
• Who is at risk? 
• How long does it take to develop?
• Signs and symptoms of cryptosporidiosis
• What you can do
• Preventing the spread of cryptosporidiosis
• References

Cryptosporidiosis is an important cause of diarrhoea around the world. Although most people catch it from other people who have the infection, sometimes cryptosporidiosis can be caught from water supplies. Cryptosporidiosis (the illness) and cryptosporidium (the parasite causing it) are both commonly called 'crypto'.

For more information have a look at Department Health (South Australia), Cryptosporidiosis

What is cryptosporidiosis?

• Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasite (full name cryptosporidium parvum) which can affect many animals including humans.
• It was first found to cause illness in 1976, and has become much better known since it was found to cause severe illness in people with damaged immune systems (especially those with HIV/AIDS).
• Cryptosporidiosis is not diagnosed often in Australia.

How does it spread?

• Crypto lives in the gut of infected humans or animals, and millions are released in a bowel movement (poo). So crypto is found in soil, food, water or surfaces that have human or animal poo on them.
• If you swallow the parasite you can become infected. You cannot become infected with crypto through contact with blood.
• Some ways that crypto can be caught include:
  • Putting something into your mouth (your fingers or another object) that has the parasite on it because it has come into contact with the poo of infected humans or animals. This is the most common way that the infection is spread.
  • Swallowing water that has the crypto in it, such as water in swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes and rivers.
  • Eating uncooked food that has the parasite on it.

Who is at risk?

• In Australia most crypto occurs in young children, especially toddlers who wear nappies and spend a lot of time with other toddlers (such as in child care). It can also be caught by their parents, other family members and care givers.
• People with damaged immune systems such as people with HIV/AIDS, cancer or those having steroid drugs for treating severe illnesses are at greater risk of becoming very ill.
• People who care for those who have crypto are also at risk of catching it (nurses, doctors, and family members).
• In some countries where the water supply is not clean (not filtered or treated) there is more crypto. Overseas travellers who develop diarrhoea may have crypto.

How long does it take to develop?

It takes up to 10 days after exposure before the person becomes ill (average 7 days).

Signs and symptoms of cryptosporidiosis

• Some people with cryptosporidiosis do not have any symptoms.
• The most common symptom of crypto is watery diarrhoea.
• Other symptoms include dehydration (from loss of too much water), weight loss, tummy pain, nausea (feeling sick), a low fever and vomiting.
• These symptoms often last for about 7 to 14 days. They may go in cycles. The person may seem to get better after a few days, then feel worse again for a few more days.
• In people with damaged immune systems the infection can last for many weeks, and can cause severe weight loss and dehydration.

What you can do

• There is no standard treatment which can get rid of the parasite, but the symptoms can be treated. There are some new treatments available in a few places for people who are very ill, but these are not often used.
• All children under the age of about 12 months who have diarrhoea should be seen by a doctor. If older children have diarrhoea which lasts more than a few days, or they have a weakened immune system, they should also be seen by a doctor.
• Medicines which stop diarrhoea may be offered to adults, but should not usually be used for children.
• It is important to have plenty of drinks, and to rest.
• For ideas about how to manage the diarrhoea see the topic 'Gastroenteritis'.

Preventing spread of cryptosporidiosis

• Wash your hands well with soap and water after using the toilet and before preparing and eating food. Teach children how to do this when they are very young, and make sure that they do it every time.
• Wash your hands well and clean all surfaces after changing nappies.
• Children with diarrhoea should stay away from places where they may pass it to other children (eg child care centres).
• All people who have crypto (or any other illness causing diarrhoea ) should be very careful with their hygiene so that they do not pass the illness to others.
• If you or your child has crypto, do not go swimming in pools because you can still be passing the crypto for several weeks.
  • Crypto is not completely killed by the chlorine in pools.
  • No-one, even careful adults, can clean their bottom well enough to get rid of all the parasites if they have crypto.
  • Young children, especially babies, often do poo in a pool.
  • The germs causing other illnesses which cause diarrhoea can also be spread in swimming pools. The chlorine may kill the germs, but this will take some time, and others may catch the infection before the chlorine is able to work.
  • The water in paddling pools should be emptied every day after use.
  • For more information, see the topic 'Healthy swimming in pools'.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. (Most young children do swallow water when they swim, so be careful when choosing where they can swim.)
• Make sure that your water supply is safe.
  • The normal levels of chlorine in water supplies (which can kill bacteria) do not kill all cryptosporidium, but some filters do.
  • The Centers for Disease Control (USA) report that there have not been any outbreaks of crypto in cities or towns where the water is filtered and treated even though most water treatment does not get rid of all crypto (even treatment that meets all of the standards required). 
  • If the water supply is affected, or you are not sure if it is safe, you need to boil the water for 1 minute. The water needs to be held at a rolling boil. Most electric kettles switch off after a few seconds, so it is best to boil the water on a cooktop. All drinking water, water used for cleaning teeth and for washing food that will not be cooked should be boiled.
  • Take extra care when you are travelling.
  • For more information, see the topic 'Drinking water'.
• Wash and/or peel all raw vegetables and fruits with safe water before they are eaten.
• Avoid eating raw food when travelling in countries which do not have safe water and sewerage systems. Steaming hot foods, fruits that you peel yourself, bottled and canned drinks and hot tea or coffee are probably safe.
• In South Australia cryptosporidiosis is a notifiable disease (the Communicable Disease Control Branch needs to be told by the doctor if a person has crypto so that other people can be protected from the infection through finding the source of the infection).

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) 'Cryptosporidiosis:
:http://www.cdc.gov/crypto/

Department Health (South Australia), 'Cryptosporidiosis'

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).

This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.