Cryptosporidium enteritis

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Cryptosporidium, organism

Digestive system organs

Cryptosporidiosis

There is no reliable treatment for cryptosporidium enteritis -- certain agents such as paromomycin, atovaquone, nitazoxanide, and azithromycin are sometimes used but they usually have only temporary effects. Currently, the best approach is to improve the immune status in immunodeficient individuals. This can be done, for example, by using antiviral therapy in patients with AIDS and supportive treatment for symptoms.

AIDS specialists and patient activists may provide additional information on the latest treatments, and on medications and alternative treatments which may provide some relief.

The infection will clear up in healthy people, although it may last up to a month. In immunosuppressed individuals, prolonged diarrhea with wasting and malnutrition may result.

• Severe malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract)
• Wasting syndrome
• Biliary tract involvement such as cholangitis (inflammation of a bile duct), cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Hepatitis
• Pancreatitis

Notify your health care provider if you develop watery diarrhea that does not clear within several days, especially if you are immunosuppressed.

Review Date: 05/26/2006
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.