What is Cryptosporidium Infection (cryptosporidiosis) 

Cryptosporidium infection (cryptosporidiosis) is a gastrointestinal disease whose primary symptom is diarrhea. The illness begins when a tiny one-celled parasite enters your body and travels to your small intestine. Cryptosporidium, which means "hidden spore," then begins its life cycle inside your body - burrowing into the walls of your intestines and then later being shed in your feces. 

Cryptosporidium infection produces a bout of watery diarrhea and resolves within a week or two. For people with a compromised immune system, it can become life-threatening without proper treatment. Complications include dehydration due to severe diarrhea, malnutrition and weight loss. The infection may also spread beyond your intestines. 

Cryptosporidium infection is transmitted when you come in contact with soil, food, water or surfaces that have been touched by contaminated human or animal feces. Options for treatment of cryptosporidium infection focus on alleviating diarrhea and boosting the immune response. 

About 3,000 cases of cryptosporidium infection are reported each year in the United States. Incidence of the illness is higher in children than adults, and it's also more likely to affect people with HIV infection. Prevention measures include good hygiene and avoiding drinking water that hasn't been boiled or filtered. 

What is  cryptosporidiosis?

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium. Once an animal or person is infected, the parasite lives in the intestine and passes in the stool. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very resistant to chlorine- based disinfectants. Both the disease and the parasite are commonly known as "crypto."

During the past two decades, crypto has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne disease within humans in the United States. The parasite may be found in drinking water and recreational water in every region of the United States and throughout the world.

How is cryptosporidiosis spread?

Cryptosporidium lives in the intestine of infected humans or animals. Millions of crypto germs can be released in a bowel movement from an infected human or animal. Consequently, Cryptosporidium is found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with infected human or animal feces. If a person swallows the parasite they become infected. You cannot become infected through contact with blood. The parasite can be spread by

• Accidentally putting something into your mouth or swallowing something that has come into contact with feces of a person or animal infected with Cryptosporidium.
• Swallowing recreational water contaminated with Cryptosporidium (Recreational water includes water in swimming pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis, fountains, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, or streams that can be contaminated with sewage or feces from humans or animals.) Note: Cryptosporidium can survive for days in swimming pools with adequate chlorine levels.
• Eating uncooked food contaminated with Cryptosporidium. Thoroughly wash with clean, safe water all vegetables and fruits you plan to eat raw. See below for information on making water safe.
• Accidentally swallowing Cryptosporidium picked up from surfaces (such as bathroom fixtures, changing tables, diaper pails, or toys) contaminated with feces from an infected person.