Cryptosporidiosis in Houston, Texas. A report of 95 cases

Medicine (Baltimore). 1997 Mar;76(2):118-39. doi: 10.1097/00005792-199703000-00004.

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is an important cause of diarrhea. We identified 95 patients with cryptosporidiosis over a 6-year period in our county hospital system, including 9 children and 86 adults infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Risk factors included male-to-male sexual practices and Hispanic race. Diarrhea, weight loss, and gastrointestinal complaints were the most common symptoms at presentation. Among the HIV-infected adults, 20 (23%) developed biliary tract disease. Biliary involvement was associated with low CD4 counts. Treatment with paromomycin and antimotility agents was effective in reducing diarrheal symptoms in 54 of 70 (77%) patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), although there was a high rate of relapse. Paromomycin did not prevent the development of biliary disease. Biliary disease responded to cholecystectomy or sphincterotomy with stent placement. Though often a cause of morbidity, cryptosporidiosis was only rarely the cause of death, even among patients with HIV. Cryptosporidiosis continues to be an important medical problem even in developed-countries. Current methods of prevention and treatment are suboptimal.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / complications
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / etiology
  • Cholecystitis / etiology
  • Cryptosporidiosis* / complications
  • Cryptosporidiosis* / diagnosis
  • Cryptosporidiosis* / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Opportunistic Infections / complications
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • Recurrence
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons
  • Texas / epidemiology