Long-term health effects after resolution of acute Cryptosporidium parvum infection: a 1-year follow-up of outbreak-associated cases

J Med Microbiol. 2017 Nov;66(11):1607-1611. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.000609. Epub 2017 Oct 6.

Abstract

We describe a longitudinal study carried out in an adult outbreak-associated cohort to investigate health effects, including post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome, occurring after resolution of acute Cryptosporidium parvum infection. New symptoms self-reported up to 12 months included: weight loss (31 %), abdominal pain (38 %), diarrhoea (33 %), eye pain (9 %), joint pain (33 %), fatigue (22 %) and symptoms consistent with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (28 %). Two people were medically diagnosed with IBS. This study describes for the first time sequelae reported by patients up to 12 months after infection with C. parvum, which appear to be similar to those described with C. hominis.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium; cryptosporidiosis; long-term health effects; post-acute health effects; sequelae.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cryptosporidiosis / complications*
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Cryptosporidium parvum*
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom
  • Young Adult