How to Treat Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis is an infection by a member of Cryptosporidium genus. Cryptosproridium hominis is the only protozoan in this genus that uses humans as natural hosts. Cryptosporidiosis usually causes only self-limiting diarrhea, but it can be severe in children and prolonged in those with suppressed immune systems. The most common transmission route is fecal-oral but major outbreaks have been caused by contaminated water. The following steps will show how to treat cryptosporidiosis.

Instructions

• 1

  Administer an anti-parasitic drug against cryptosporidiosis. Nitazoxanide is a good choice, especially in children where it significantly reduces the duration of the diarrhea and mortality rate. The normal adult dose is 500 mg per day for three days. Children one to four years of age should receive 100 mg nitazoxanide orally every 12 hours for three days with food, and children four to 12 years of age have the same schedule except the dose should be 200 mg nitazoxanide.

• 2

  Provide AIDS patients the maximum safe dosage for prolonged periods. Drugs such as nitazoxanide or paromomycin combined with azithromycin are only partially active against cryptosporidiosis. Begin antiretroviral therapy combined with an HIV protease inhibitor to produce dramatic improvement in some cases.

• 3

  Treat the symptoms of cryptosporidiosis with support therapy. This includes antimotility agents, replacing fluids and nutrition. Diphenoxylate-atropine or loperamide also may help in some cases. Consider anhydrous morphine for more difficult cases.

• 4

  Ensure nutrition is adequate but avoid lactose-containing foods during this illness.

• 5

  Perform a cholecystectomy for most cases of acalculous cholecystitis.