Cryptosporidiosis in north Indian children.

ABSTRACT

Stool samples of 100 children (below 2 years of age) with acute diarrhea as study group and 50 non-diarrheal stools of children (age and sex matched) as control were examined for parasites. The samples were processed and examined by direct wet mounts, concentration technique and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining. The prevalence of cryptosporidium was 5.0% in the study group while none of the controlled samples showed it. In all cryptosporidium positive cases, no other bacterial or parasitic pathogen could be detected. Diarrhea persisted for 6-16 days and was moderate resulting in dehydration, which was rapidly corrected by oral/or intravenous fluids. Out of 5 cryptosporidium positive children 4 were breast-fed while 1 received bottle feeding. Only one positive case had contact with petdog.