Cryptosporidiosis in Benha, study of some recent modalities in diagnosis and treatment.

A total prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was carried out on 1087 diarrheal patients of all age groups attending the outpatient clinics using modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain (MZN) and Meriflour direct immunofluorescent technique (IFA). IFA was more sensitive, specific and gave positive results 19.5% than MZN stain which gave a positivity 13.5% Cases were divided into 3 groups, each group was treated by one of nitazoxanid (NTZ), or co-trimoxazole or placebo. The most effective drug was NTZ which cured 39 patients (79.6%) out of 49 patients followed by co-trimoxazole that gave cure of 20 (41.6%) out of 48 patients. Placebo cured 20 (40%) out of 50 patients.