Occurrence and significance of Cryptosporidium infection in Calcutta

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1989 Jul-Aug;83(4):520-1. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(89)90274-5.

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 non-diarrhoeic 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.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cryptosporidiosis / complications
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Cryptosporidium / isolation & purification
  • Diarrhea / complications
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Infant
  • Seasons