Can't stop having watery diarrhea? I don't even know about Cryptosporidiosis! Let's talk about this.

Have you or someone in your family been experiencing watery diarrhea, cramping, or vomiting for a few days? You may have recently been swimming in a public swimming pool. Or you may have drunk water from an unknown source. If so, what I am going to tell you is very important for you. Today we are going to talk about a disease called Cryptosporidiosis , which is a bit annoying, but if you are aware, you can control it.

What is Cryptosporidiosis?

Simply put, cryptosporidiosis is a stomach illness caused by a tiny parasite called Cryptosporidium . The main symptom is watery diarrhea . It can also cause other symptoms, such as stomach pain and nausea. This parasite is most often transmitted through contaminated water. It is most common in public swimming pools, waterfalls, and rivers. Some people call it "crypto" for short.

Who is most likely to get this?

Anyone can get cryptosporidiosis, but some people are at a slightly higher risk of developing it.

Imagine, young children between the ages of one and four are most likely to develop this. The reason for this is that young children still don't understand the importance of hand washing and how germs spread. Also, this disease can easily be transmitted to them and their parents who take care of them through diapers .

Not only that, but the following people are also at higher risk:

• People over 75 years of age.
• People who live or work with young children (e.g. preschool teachers, daycare center workers).
• People who drink unpurified and unfiltered water (especially when traveling, hiking, or camping, drinking water from unknown sources).
• People who work with animals, especially those who interact with farm animals (livestock).
• People who frequently bathe and play water sports in public swimming pools, lakes, and rivers.
• People who are caring for someone with cryptosporidiosis.

Who could be seriously affected by this?

Cryptosporidiosis is usually mild in people with a healthy immune system and usually resolves within a few days. However, in people with a compromised immune system , it can lead to severe, persistent, and sometimes life-threatening conditions. For example, about half of people with AIDS are unable to completely get rid of the Cryptosporidium parasite once it has entered their bodies.

Therefore, if you belong to one of the following groups, you should be very careful to avoid becoming infected with Cryptosporidium:

• HIVOr those suffering from AIDS .
• People with cancer (especially during treatment).
• People who have recently had an organ or stem cell transplant.
• People taking medications that weaken the immune system (immunosuppressants).

Also, pregnant mothers and breastfeeding babies are at higher risk of dehydration due to diarrhea, so they should also be very careful.

How common is cryptosporidiosis?

Even in a country like America, it is estimated that more than 700,000 people develop this disease every year. Cryptosporidiosis is said to be the second most common cause of diarrhea in young children, after rotavirus . This condition can also be seen in our country, especially in areas with poor sanitation.

Is this a dangerous situation?

As mentioned above, Cryptosporidium infection is usually not very serious for someone with a healthy immune system. It usually resolves on its own within a few days to two weeks. However, for someone with a weakened immune system, it can cause severe, long-lasting diarrhea. It can even be life-threatening.

What are the symptoms of this?

Symptoms of the Cryptosporidium parasite begin to appear within two to ten days after entering the body. The main symptoms are:

• Watery diarrhea (sometimes very severe).
• Abdominal pain or cramping.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Loss of appetite.
• Low fever.

These symptoms don't occur in the same way for everyone. Some people may only experience one or two, while others may experience all of these symptoms to a severe degree.

What causes this? (About the Cryptosporidium parasite)

This disease is caused by a parasite called Cryptosporidium . This parasite enters your mouth, travels to your digestive system, and that's where it infects and causes symptoms.

Cryptosporidium is a type of protozoan parasite , a single-celled parasite that lives in the bodies of animals and humans. It is so small that it can only be seen with a microscope. Humans are commonly infected by two species , Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum .

How can we get this?

Cryptosporidiosis is spread through the fecal-oral route . Simply put, it occurs when we accidentally ingest poop particles containing the parasite. It can spread very easily from infected people or animals. There are several ways you can get it:

• From contaminated water: This is the main way. It can be transmitted by drinking untreated water, or by swallowing water from lakes, swimming pools, water parks, or other water sports. Most importantly, the chlorine used in swimming pools does not kill the Cryptosporidium parasite. When diseases are spread from public swimming pools, the most commonly reported infections are caused by this parasite.
• From unclean foods: from poorly washed fruits and vegetables, unpasteurized apple cider, unpasteurized milk, and foods made from them.
• From dirty objects and surfaces: If you touch objects or surfaces that someone with cryptosporidiosis has touched and then touch your mouth or eat food with those hands, you can also get infected by caring for or changing diapers of someone with the disease (including young children).
• From infected animals: This can be spread when touching animals in a petting zoo or when touching farm animals.
• Having sex with someone who has cryptosporidiosis: This is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI). However, it can be spread if you touch the other person's anus or the area around it with your mouth, hands, or genitals.

Imagine that you went on a fun trip with friends and took a dip in a stream or river, and unknowingly swallowed some water. Or, say, you took a dip in a public swimming pool and swallowed some water. These are the situations where the Cryptosporidium parasite is most likely to enter the body.

Is this a contagious disease?

Yes, cryptosporidiosis is a contagious disease. This means that it can spread from one person to another, either directly or indirectly. If you have cryptosporidiosis, if you don't wash your hands properly after using the bathroom, this parasite can get on anything you touch. If you go swimming while you're sick, the water can be contaminated and you can infect someone else.

If someone else touches a surface you have contaminated, or if the water you have bathed in goes into someone's mouth, they can also get sick.

How does a doctor recognize this?

Cryptosporidiosis is diagnosed by testing a stool sample . Your doctor will give you a clean bottle and instruct you on how to collect the sample. Some days your stool may contain a lot of parasites, while other days it may contain very few. Therefore, it may take several days to get an accurate diagnosis.

At the same time, the doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms and health history.

What is the treatment?

Most people with strong immune systems recover from cryptosporidiosis without any special treatment. The most important thing is to drink plenty of water and fluids to prevent dehydration.Your doctor may prescribe oral hydration or IV hydration, as well as antidiarrheal medications.

For people with healthy immune systems, there are also antiprotozoal medications that can be used to treat cryptosporidiosis. These medications work by stopping protozoan parasites like Cryptosporidium from growing inside the body.

If you have an underlying condition that weakens your immune system, your doctor can help you manage that condition, which may help reduce the symptoms of cryptosporidiosis.

What should you not eat or drink when you have this illness?

If you have cryptosporidiosis, you should avoid foods and drinks that can make diarrhea and dehydration worse. For example, alcohol and caffeinated beverages (like coffee and tea) are not good. Some studies suggest that avoiding foods that contain lactose (like milk and dairy products) can shorten the duration of diarrhea. It's best to ask your doctor what you should and shouldn't eat.

What are the medications for cryptosporidiosis?

Depending on the severity of your symptoms and whether you have other underlying conditions, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

• Anti-protozoal medications: Nitazoxanide (Alinia®) can shorten the time you are sick with cryptosporidiosis. However, if you have a weak immune system, this medication may not work as well.
• Antidiarrhea medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications such as diphenoxylate-atropine (Lomotil®) or loperamide (Imodium®) to help stop diarrhea. This can help prevent dehydration and the loss of important minerals from the body.
• Treatment for dehydration: Your doctor may give you special fluids to rehydrate you and replace lost electrolytes (minerals essential for the body to function).

Side effects of treatment

Loperamide can cause heart rhythm problems if taken in large doses. If you have heart disease or liver disease, you should tell your doctor before taking this medicine.

Before taking Nitazoxanide, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, gallbladder or bile duct problems, or a weakened immune system.

How do you manage symptoms at home?

When you are at home with cryptosporidiosis, the best thing you can do is to stay hydrated and watch for signs of worsening symptoms.

• Drink plenty of water and fluids:Water, broth, sports drinks, or oral rehydration solutions (e.g., Jeevani, Pedialyte®) are the best things to avoid dehydration.
• Over-the-counter medications for diarrhea: Medications such as loperamide (Imodium®) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol®, Kaopectate®) can help stop diarrhea. However, ask your doctor before taking these. Do not give any medicine to infants or children without first checking with their pediatrician.
• Watch for symptoms: If you can't keep anything down, or if you have severe diarrhea more than ten times a day, see your doctor. You may need IV fluids or nutrition.

How quickly will I recover after treatment?

If you are prescribed anti-protozoal medication for cryptosporidiosis, it may take five days or more to get better. Take all of the medication as prescribed by your doctor, even if you feel better.

How can this be reduced? (Prevention methods)

Cryptosporidiosis spreads very easily. Neither alcohol-based hand sanitizers nor chlorine in swimming pools kill the Cryptosporidium parasite. Therefore, the best ways to protect yourself from it are to be careful in places where Cryptosporidium may be present, to practice good hand washing, and to practice good hygiene when preparing food. If your immune system is weak, it is best to avoid public swimming pools and water sports.

There are several ways to reduce the occurrence and spread of cryptosporidiosis:

• Don't go swimming if you have a stomachache. Don't go swimming until at least two weeks after the stomachache stops.
• Avoid getting water in your mouth when bathing in lakes, rivers, or public swimming pools.
• Do not drink untreated water or unpasteurized milk. When drinking water from questionable sources, drink boiled water if possible.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, peel them, or cook them before eating.
• If you touch farm animals or animals in a zoo, wash your hands thoroughly with soap before touching your face and before eating.
• Teach young children the habit of washing their hands properly from a young age. Teach them to wash their hands after touching animals and after using the toilet.
• Use a condom or dental dam every time you have sex. Avoid having sex for two weeks after your symptoms have gone.

What can you expect if you develop this disease?

For most people, cryptosporidiosis is self -limiting.A disease, that is, one that seems to get better on its own. However, due to the parasite's life cycle, your symptoms may disappear and then reappear.

Even if your symptoms stop, you can still spread the disease to others for about two weeks. So, continue to take precautions even after you recover. Don't swim in public pools or have sex for two weeks after your symptoms stop.

How long does crypto last?

If your immune system is strong, cryptosporidiosis usually clears up on its own within about two weeks. Some people may have symptoms for 30 days or more, with symptoms coming and going. If your immune system is weak, symptoms can last for months or even years.

When can I go back to work/school?

Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still pass cryptosporidiosis to someone else, so ask your employer or school when you or your child can return to work/school.

What complications can this cause?

Cryptosporidiosis can be difficult to avoid becoming dehydrated, especially for young babies and pregnant women. Losing too much fluid can lead to serious complications, including:

• Severe dehydration.
• Electrolyte imbalance , which can cause problems with the heart and other organs.
• Decreased body fluid volume (`Hypovolemia`).

Also, diseases of the bile duct, gallbladder, or pancreas can occur as complications of cryptosporidiosis. Some children may also develop growth problems after developing cryptosporidiosis.

Can cryptosporidiosis be completely cured?

In most people, the immune system fights off the cryptosporidium and clears the symptoms of cryptosporidiosis. Medications can also help treat cryptosporidiosis. However, in someone with a weakened immune system, cryptosporidiosis may not be completely cured, and symptoms may persist for years.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have symptoms of cryptosporidiosis, especially if you have watery bowel movements several times a day, see your doctor. If you have a weakened immune system or any symptoms of infection, see a doctor right away .

When should you go to an Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) ?

If you are unable to keep any food or drink down, have watery diarrhea more than ten times a day, or have symptoms of severe dehydration, go to the nearest emergency room. Symptoms of severe dehydration include:

• Confusion.
• Weakness or light-headedness.
• Feeling dizzy when you stand.
• UrineVery little or no urination (`Not peeing or barely peeing`).
• Dark-colored urine (`Dark-colored pee (urine)`).

What are the important questions to ask your doctor?

When you go to see a doctor, it's a good idea to ask questions like these:

• How to control symptoms at home?
• What medications can I take for my symptoms?
• What should I eat and drink? What should I not eat or drink?
• What is the best way to avoid dehydration?
• What should I do if my symptoms get worse or change?
• What symptoms should I see you for or go to the emergency room?
• How can I prevent spreading cryptosporidiosis to others?

Finally, a few important points (Take-Home Message)

Cryptosporidiosis is a condition that spreads easily and can be difficult to completely prevent. Although it often resolves on its own, there is a risk of life-threatening complications.

Be very careful to avoid becoming infected with Cryptosporidium, especially if your immune system is weak.

If you have this disease, do everything you can to avoid infecting others. Even if you have only a minor discomfort, it can be life-threatening for someone else. Good hygiene practices (especially hand washing), safe food and water habits are the best defenses against this. If you have symptoms, be sure to seek medical advice.

` Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, Diarrhea, Stomach upset, Dehydration, Parasitic infection, Waterborne diseases