Have you suddenly started to feel watery? Are you experiencing stomach pain and vomiting? This may not be a normal stomach ache. You may also be suffering from a condition called 'Cryptosporidiosis', which is caused by a tiny parasite that you can't even see with the naked eye and can only be seen with a microscope. It is also known as 'Crypto' among our people. Don't worry, we will talk about everything in simple terms.
Simply put, what is Cryptosporidiosis?
Cryptosporidiosis is a disease caused by a parasite called Cryptosporidium . It mainly affects the digestive system. That is why watery stools (diarrhea) are the main symptom.
This parasite most often enters our bodies through contaminated water, especially in public swimming pools, waterfalls, and lakes.
Who is most likely to get this disease?
Actually, anyone can develop this, but some people are at a slightly higher risk of developing it.
- Young children between the ages of 1 and 4: They are more likely to catch the virus because they don't yet have the habit of washing their hands properly and don't understand how germs spread. Also, parents are more likely to catch it when changing an infected child's diaper.
- People over 75 years of age: The risk of developing the disease increases as immunity decreases with age.
- People who work or live with young children: such as teachers and those who work in daycare centers.
- People who drink water that has not been filtered or purified: There is a risk of this if you drink water from a stream while hiking/camping in the forest.
- People who work with animals: Especially those who interact with farm animals.
- People who frequently bathe in public swimming pools, lakes, and rivers.
- For someone who is caring for someone who already has this disease.
Who can be seriously affected? (Risk groups)
Usually, a healthy person will recover within a few days after getting this. However, if your body's disease-fighting army, the immune system, is weak , this can become a serious, long-term illness that can be life-threatening.
Therefore, if you belong to one of the following categories, you should take special care to protect yourself from this parasite.
- People with HIV or AIDS.
- Cancer patients.
- People who have recently had an organ transplant or stem cell transplant.
- People taking immune-suppressing medications.
Pregnant mothers and breastfeeding babies are at high risk of dehydration , which means water retention, due to diarrhea. Therefore, they should also be very careful.
What are the symptoms of this?
Symptoms usually begin to appear within two to ten days after the parasite enters the body. See if you have one or more of these symptoms.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Watery diarrhea (diarrhea) | This is the main and most common symptom. Sometimes it can be severe, occurring several times a day. |
| Stomach pain or cramping | It may feel like your stomach hurts when you touch it. |
| Nausea and vomiting | Vomiting may accompany loss of appetite. |
| Appetite | You may lose all desire to eat. |
| Lifeless body | You may feel tired and lifeless. |
| Slight fever | There may be a slight fever, as if the body is hot. |
How is this disease transmitted?
Simply put, it is spread by inadvertently ingesting feces containing the parasite into the mouth. There are several ways this can happen.
- From dirty water: This is the main cause. This can happen by drinking unfiltered water, bathing in lakes, rivers, or swimming pools, and accidentally swallowing some water.
- Contaminated food: You can get infected from things like unwashed fruits and vegetables, unpasteurized milk, and apple cider.
- From infected surfaces: Someone who is sick can infect another person by touching things like doorknobs and tables if they go to the bathroom without washing their hands thoroughly.
- From infected animals: You can become infected if you touch animals in places where pets are kept (petting zoos) and eat them without washing your hands thoroughly.
- Through sexual contact: Although this is not a sexually transmitted disease, it can be transmitted by touching the anal area of an infected person with the mouth, hands, or other body parts.
- Antiprotozoal medication: Nitazoxanide can shorten the recovery time, but it may not be as effective in people with weakened immune systems.
- Antidiarrheal medications: Medications like Loperamide can control diarrhea.
- Hydration : If you are severely dehydrated and cannot take fluids by mouth, you may need to be given IV fluids.
- Drink plenty of fluids like water, juice, porridge, and soup. Avoid caffeine-containing tea, coffee, and alcohol. These can further increase dehydration.
- Do not buy medicine from the pharmacy without consulting a doctor. Especially do not give any medicine to small children without medical advice.
- Eat small meals as much as possible. Try to eat small amounts of things like bananas, rice, and bread. Some studies suggest that temporarily cutting out milk and dairy products (lactose) can help diarrhea get better faster. Talk to your doctor about this.
- Confusion
- Feeling of weakness, fainting
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
- Very little or no urination
- Dark yellow or brown urine
- Cryptosporidiosis is a severe diarrheal condition caused by a parasite, mainly spread through contaminated water.
- The chlorine in swimming pools cannot kill this parasite, so be careful not to get water in your mouth when swimming.
- The most important treatment for this is to drink plenty of fluids (vegetables, porridge, water) to prevent dehydration.
- This disease can be very serious and life-threatening for people with weakened immune systems (HIV, cancer patients).
- You can prevent this infection by washing your hands thoroughly with soap after using the toilet and before eating.
- If you have a stomachache, do not go to swimming pools until two weeks after your symptoms have stopped.
Most importantly: Many people think that the chlorine in swimming pools kills this germ. But the truth is, the Cryptosporidium parasite is very resistant to chlorine! That's why it's so common in public swimming pools.
Is this disease contagious?
Yes, absolutely. It's very easy to spread. If an infected person doesn't wash their hands after going to the bathroom, they can pick up the parasite on anything they touch. Also, if they get into a swimming pool while they're pooping, the water can be completely contaminated.
How do you find this, Doctor?
After listening to your symptoms, your doctor will ask you to take a stool sample test to confirm this. You will be given a special bottle and instructions for this.
Think about it this way, one day these parasites may be present in your stool, and the next day they may be absent. So you may need to provide samples from several days for an accurate diagnosis.
How is it treated?
Many people with good immune systems recover from this disease without special treatment.
The most important treatment for this is to stay hydrated. Diarrhea causes the body to lose a large amount of fluid and electrolytes, which must be replaced.
Depending on your condition, your doctor may prescribe the following treatments:
Things you can do at home
When do you need to go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU)?
If you are unable to keep down any food or water, have watery diarrhea more than ten times a day, or have any of the following symptoms of severe dehydration , go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
How can you avoid this disease?
Since it is easily transmitted, prevention is the best option. Remember, neither alcohol-based hand sanitizers nor chlorine in swimming pools can completely kill this parasite. That is why it is very important to follow these practices.
| Prevention method | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hand washing | Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet, before preparing food, after touching animals, and after changing a child's diaper. |
| Swimming | Don't go swimming if you have a stomachache. Avoid swimming in swimming pools, lakes, or rivers for two weeks after your stomachache has stopped . Be careful not to get water in your mouth while swimming. |
| Food and water | Always drink boiled or bottled water. Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating. |
| Educating children | Teach children the importance of washing their hands well from a young age. |
Do I still need to be careful after recovering from the illness?
Yes. You can still spread it to someone else for about two weeks after your symptoms have gone. Therefore, it is very important to avoid swimming and having sex during that time.
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