Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by the Cryptosporidium parvum parasite, also referred to as "Crypto." Crypto lives in the intestine of infected animals and humans and is passed through stool.

Some people with cryptosporidiosis do not have symptoms. But most people will have watery diarrhea. Other symptoms include:

• Fever.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Belly pain.
• Weight loss.

Symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after becoming infected. Symptoms can last 1 to 2 weeks. Sometimes symptoms come and go in cycles. You may feel better for a few days and then feel worse again before the illness is over.

Your doctor will request stool samples, sometimes several, and send them to a laboratory for testing.

Most people with healthy immune systems will recover without special treatment. Dehydration caused by diarrhea is the most common complication.

To prevent dehydration, take frequent sips of a rehydration drink (such as Pedialyte). Try to drink a cup of water or rehydration drink for each large, loose stool you have. Soda and fruit juices have too much sugar and not enough of the important electrolytes that are lost during diarrhea, and they should not be used to rehydrate.

Some people are treated with the prescription medicine nitazoxanide.