Occurrence and significance of Cryptosporidium infection in Calcutta

Abstract

During a 2-year study, Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 32 (5·6%) of 566 hospitalized paediatric diarrhoea cases and 2 (1·2%) of 167 nondiarrhoeic individuals. Cryptosporidium was the sole pathogen detected in 17 (3·0%) of the 32 positive cases; in the other 15 it occurred in combination with one or more other established enteropathogen(s). The frequency of detection of the parasite was highest in the 0–6 months age group; no sex-specific difference was discernible. The detection rate of the parasite was highest during the monsoon and post-monsoon months. Most of the patients had watery stools with a mild to moderate degree of dehydration, with the diarrhoea lasting for less than 7 d.