Crytosporidiosis is a disease caused by a parasite Crytosporidiumparvum.

Attention to water facilities in communities across the U.S. has been increased since 400,000 people became ill with diarrhea after drinking water in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1993. The cause of the outbreak was crytosporidiosis a single-celled protozoon.

Putting anything into your mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of an infected animal or human exposes you to the Cryptosp parasite. This parasite is too small to be detected by the human eye.

Crytosporidium oocysts this is an egg shaped form of the parasite that is in the infectious stage. People became infected when eating raw uncooked food, and drinking water that has been contaminated with the egg shaped parasite. You may also became infected when the parasite is transferred for hand to mouth by touching any surface that has come in contact with microscopic amounts of stool either from human or animal.

Symptoms include low-grade fever diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps. Two symptoms that can become very dangerous in elderly persons, and children are dehydration and weight loss. These symptoms can manifest themselves within two to ten days of becoming infected.

If you show any of these symptoms call your physician immediately, this is especially important if you have a suppressed immune system.

Symptoms will last for one to two weeks for normally healthy people, their healthy immune system will stop the infection. Suppressed immune systems found in those with cancer, Aids, organ or bone marrow transplant patents, will find the infection may continue and will become a life-threatening illness.

As yet an effective cure for crytposporidiosis is not available.

Those with suppressed immune systems will take antibiotics, or antiparasitic medication. Infected people with healthy immune systems regain their health without medication.

For the majority of those infected with the parasite the recommended treatment called for by most physicians is medication for diarrhea, drinking fluids, and extra bed rest.

People at high risk are those that care for children, small children that are in day care, those exposed during sex, care givers in homes, hospitals, and nursing homes.

High-risk patients such as those with cancer are at risk of severe illness.

Prevention: Washing foods before preparing them, and washing hands or any surface where you prepare food will help prevent infection.

If you are a caregiver make sure to wash your hands often, or use gloves changing them between patients, or children.

If you have a suppressed immune system, or HIV never drink unpasteurized milk or milk products, never drink from rivers, or lakes. Avoid exposure to farm animals, or pet shops. Wash hands after handling pets, and gardening.

Any sexual contact increases the risk of spreading the infection to others.

When infected with cryptosporidiosis wash your hands often to help prevent the spread of disease.

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