Cryptosporidiosis in children in Gaza

Abstract

A prospective survey of children admitted with gastro-enteritis to the Nasser Children's Hospital, Gaza revealed that 19% were excreting Cryptosporidium, a significantly (pSalmonella spp were isolated more frequently than Cryptosporidium in children with diarrhoea (20% of cases), there was no statistically significant association between excretion of Salmonella spp and gastroenteritis. A follow-up study of a cohort of the children with cryptosporidiosis indicated that over three-quarters were dehydrated and all were below their expected weight-for-age. There was a statistically significant association between Cryptosporidium gastro-enteritis and evidence of respiratory tract infection.