Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis is an intestinal illness caused by Cryptosporidium parasites. It commonly causes watery diarrhea and can be severe or prolonged in people with weakened immune systems.

Cryptosporidium: A genus of microscopic apicomplexan parasites that infect the intestinal lining of humans and other animals. Its species cause cryptosporidiosis by invading intestinal epithelial cells.
Cryptosporidium stool test: A laboratory test that detects Cryptosporidium in a stool sample using microscopy, antigen detection, or molecular methods. Stool testing confirms the cause of diarrhea when cryptosporidiosis is suspected.
Milwaukee cryptosporidiosis outbreak: A 1993 waterborne cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Milwaukee that sickened hundreds of thousands of people. It demonstrated the scale of illness that contaminated municipal water can produce.
Giardiasis: An intestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia, often acquired through contaminated water or person-to-person spread. It can resemble cryptosporidiosis clinically but is caused by a different parasite.
Cryptosporidium parvum: A Cryptosporidium species that infects humans and many other mammals. It is a major cause of human cryptosporidiosis and can spread from livestock.
Nitazoxanide: An antiparasitic drug used to treat several intestinal infections, including cryptosporidiosis in some patients. It is an approved treatment option, though effectiveness is limited in people with weakened immunity.
Waterborne disease outbreak: An increase in illness caused by exposure to pathogens in contaminated water. Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks often follow contamination of drinking or recreational water.
Cyclosporiasis: An intestinal infection caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, often associated with contaminated fresh produce. Both infections cause prolonged watery diarrhea, but their parasites and typical exposure routes differ.
Cryptosporidium hominis: A Cryptosporidium species whose main host is humans. It drives many human-to-human outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis.
Oral rehydration therapy: A method of replacing water and electrolytes by drinking a balanced solution. It treats dehydration caused by the illness’s watery diarrhea.

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