A prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections among Thai HIV-infected patients.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in 156 HIV-infected Thai patients who had acute diarrheal illness at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Hospital, was studied. This cross-sectional study was performed from March to August in year 2001. The patients ranged in age from 1 month-65 years old. A stool sample from each subject was stained to find the oocysts by modified Ziehl Nelson carbolfuchsin staining. According to the present study, a diagnosis of Cryptosporidium parvum infection was found in 20 patients (11 males and 9 females). The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in the present series was 12.8 per cent (10.0% in males and 19.1% in females). This infection rate between males and females was not significantly different. Comparing this prevalence to a report in the previous 5 years in the same hospital, the same high rate can be seen.