CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN CHILDREN

Of 553 stool specimens from children under 18 years of age screened by a merthiolate-iodineformalin technique at the Houston City Health Department from July to November, 1983, 5(0.9%) contained cryptosporidial oocysts, confirmed by auramine O and modified acid-fast stains. Patients ranged in age from 2 months to 2 years, and all were thought to be immunocompetent. Clinical illness consisted of watery diarrhea without blood or mucous (5 children), fever (4), vomiting (3), and abdominal pain (1), lasting from 10 days to 4 weeks. Stools were negative for other parasites and for Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter organisms. None of the children had a history of animal exposure, and mode of acquisition could not be determined. Two children attended different day care centers. Cryptosporidium may be an important cause of diarrhea in normal children. Further studies are necessary to determine its exact role in diarrheal disease.