Things You Must Know About Cryptosporidium

 Posted on June 08, 2023 in Uncategorized

Accounting for 750,000 cases in the United States annually, Cryptosporidium is the second leading factor of diarrhea among children. Cryptosporidiosis is a highly contagious infection that attacks your intestine, causing severe stomach pain, watery diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and even weight loss. The gastrointestinal infection can be life-threatening for children and people with a weak immune system. Read on to learn about the causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of Cryptosporidiosis, a gastrointestinal disease caused by the deadly parasite Cryptosporidium.

What Is Cryptosporidium?

Cryptosporidium is basically a one-cell microscopic parasite that can make anyone sick. While there are many species of Cryptosporidium, some of them infect animals and humans as well. Otherwise called Crypto, Cryptosporidium has an outer shell, which protects it and allows the parasite to live in the environment for longer periods. Cryptosporidium is the most common cause of waterborne diseases in humans worldwide.

Cryptosporidiosis Causes

Cryptosporidium uses the fecal-oral route to get into the human body. This means that accidentally touching an infected person’s poop and your mouth can easily get the infection in your system. Listed below are the common causes of Cryptosporidiosis:

● Eating contaminated food such as unwashed vegetables and fruits, unpasteurized apple cider, and things made using unpasteurized milk.

● Drinking contaminated water or accidentally swallowing water from the lakes and swimming pools.

● Touching infected animals.

● Coming in contact with contaminated surfaces.

● Crypto cannot be sexually transmitted. However, you can get it by touching an infected person’s anus, the area around the genitals, hands, or mouth.

Cryptosporidiosis Symptoms

The strangest thing about Cryptosporidiosis is that the symptoms don’t develop overnight. Instead, it takes 2 to 10 days after exposure to Cryptosporidium for the following symptoms to surface:

● Watery diarrhea (mild or severe)

● Vomiting

● Dehydration

● Nausea

● Stomach cramping or pain

● Low fever

● Loss of appetite

● Weight loss

Cryptosporidiosis Risk Factors

Any person that doesn’t wash their hands after touching contaminated surfaces can contract Cryptosporidiosis. People at a high risk of getting Cryptosporidiosis include:

● Cancer patients.

● People who have AIDS or HIV.

● People on medications that suppress the immune system.

● Childcare workers.

● Animal handlers.

● Parents of an infected child.

● People who drink unfiltered water include hikers, campers, and travelers.

● Recipient of a stem cell or organ transplant.

● People older than 75 years.

● People having unsafe sex.

Simply put, a person with a weakened immune system is at the highest risk of getting Cryptosporidiosis. In such people, Cryptosporidium infection can be long-lasting, serious, and deadly if not treated on time.

Note: People with a CD4 cell count below 200 can easily get infected with Crypto.

Diagnosing and Treating Cryptosporidiosis

If your healthcare provider suspects Cryptosporidiosis, they will ask you to send a stool sample to the lab for testing. The lab assistant will look for the parasite under a microscope and conduct an antigen test and DNA test on the stool in order to find Cryptosporidium’s genetic material. Your healthcare provider will also question you about your health history and Crypto symptoms and do a physical examination.

While a healthy person’s immune system will fight Cryptosporidium and will recover from the symptoms without any treatment, it is important to stay hydrated and take antiprotozoal medication if prescribed by the doctor. The medication slows down the progression of Cryptosporidium in your body, speeding up the recovery process.

On the other hand, if you have a weak immune system or are suffering from a chronic condition, the healthcare provider will give you medications accordingly. When diagnosed with Cryptosporidiosis, avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol and eating dairy products.

Reducing the Risk of Spreading and Preventing Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis is contagious, meaning one person can easily transfer the parasite to another. While chlorine and alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used to kill germs, they cannot kill Cryptosporidium. Thus, following good hygiene practices is the best way to prevent the spread of Cryptosporidium. Here are some tips to minimize the risk of spreading and getting crypto:

● If you have diarrhea, do not swim. Instead, wait at least 2 weeks for the diarrhea to disappear before stepping into the pool.

● To reduce the risk of waterborne infection, it is advised to refrain from ingesting water while swimming in public pools, rivers, and lakes.

● Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk or untreated water.

● Make sure to use a dental dam or condom each time you have sex. When diagnosed with diarrhea, wait for a period of 2 weeks for the symptoms to subside before engaging in sexual intercourse again.

● Thoroughly wash the vegetables and fruits before cooking and eating.

● Wash your hands for 20 seconds after changing the diaper, using the washroom, touching animals, cooking, eating, gardening, or coming in contact with a diarrhea patient.

● When traveling, only drink filtered or bottled water and eat thoroughly cooked food.

Reach Out to a Cryptosporidium Food Poisoning Attorney!

The cases of Cryptosporidiosis increase in the summer as people tend to neglect hygiene practices while swimming in pools and having fun in waterparks. While most people with a strong immune system will recover from Cryptosporidiosis without any issues, the symptoms can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Because Crypto is contagious, swimming with an infected person or drinking untreated water can lead to food poisoning.

Understanding that getting Cryptosporidium isn’t your fault, the lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP can help you fight for your right and get financial compensation for the missed workdays, medical bills, and mental anguish. We have the best food poisoning attorneys in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Libertyville, Crystal Lake, Joliet, and Itasca. Want to discuss your case? Contact us to schedule a free phone consultation today!