Kriptosporidiosisis a disease caused by a parasitic infection Cryptosporidium parvum on the intestines. This infection causes diarrhea and can be spread through food or water contaminated with the cryptosporidium parasite.
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can live in the intestines of humans and animals. These parasites can be excreted through feces (feces) and contaminate water. Cryptosporidium can last for days, even in water that has been infected or filtered using a filter. However, these parasites can be killed by heating.
In healthy people, cryptosporidiosis only causes diarrhea that goes away in 1–2 weeks. However, in people with weak immune systems, this disease can cause dangerous complications, especially if not treated immediately.
ReasonKriptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasite Cryptosporidium enter the digestive system and infect the intestines. This parasite has several variants, some of which can cause more severe disease than other variants.
In the intestine, the parasite will live by digging a hole in the intestinal wall. After that, the parasites will multiply and come out with feces. Studies show that millions of Cryptosporidium can come out only in 1 bowel movement.
This parasite also has an outer wall that makes it immune to most disinfectants, including those used in public swimming pools. This is what makes cryptosporidiosis easily contagious.
Some conditions that can make a person infected with cryptosporidiosis are:
- Drinking water contaminated with parasites Cryptosporidium
- Eating raw food and contaminated with parasites Cryptosporidium
- Having contact with patients or animals with cryptosporidiosis
- Touching your mouth or eating with contaminated hands, for example from not washing your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers
Cryptosporidiosis risk factors
Cryptosporidiosis can infect anyone. However, this disease is more at risk in individuals who have the following factors:
- Have a weak immune system, for example due to suffering from HIV / AIDS
- Under 10 years old
- Often swim in public pools
- Drinking water that is not guaranteed to be clean, for example when traveling to areas with poor sanitation or when drinking directly from the river while camping
- Often interacts with animals, for example because of working as an animal caretaker
- Working in daycare
SymptomKriptosporidiosis
Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis generally appear 1 week after infection and last up to 2 weeks. However, there is also cryptosporidiosis whose symptoms last up to 3 years, but with an intermittent pattern of symptoms.
Complaints that arise in patients with cryptosporidiosis include:
- Watery diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
Diarrhea that lasts in the long term (chronic diarrhea) will increase the risk of dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and weight loss. This condition is dangerous for people under five and people with weak immune systems, such as people with HIV and patients undergoing chemotherapy.
In some cases, cryptosporidiosis does not show any symptoms. However, the parasite can live in the feces for up to 2 months. Therefore, transmission can still occur during this time.
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if you experience the above complaints, especially diarrhea that doesn't get better in a few days. If treated quickly, the risk of cryptosporidiosis developing into serious complications can be lowered.
K . diagnosisriptosporidiosis
The doctor will first ask about the symptoms experienced by the patient and the activities the patient has done in the past 1 week, followed by a physical examination. If there is a suspicion that the patient has cryptosporidiosis, the doctor will take a sample of the patient's stool to be examined under a microscope.
Please note that stool sampling may be performed several times due to parasites Cryptosporidium hard to see. If needed, the doctor will take a tissue sample (biopsy) from the patient's intestine.
In patients who are confirmed to have cryptosporidiosis, the doctor will perform other tests to detect possible complications. One of them is a blood test to check the function of the liver and gallbladder and see the possibility of the spread of infection.
K . treatmentriptosporidiosis
People with cryptosporidiosis who have good immunity generally recover on their own within 2 weeks. On the other hand, people with cryptosporidiosis who have a compromised immune system need to get medical treatment.
Medical actions performed by doctors on cryptosporidiosis patients aim to increase the body's immunity and relieve the symptoms experienced by the patient. The methods used include:
- Administration of antiparasitics such as nitazoxanide along with the antibiotic azithromycin, to help reduce diarrhea by killing parasites in the intestines
- Giving loperamide, to reduce bowel movements and increase fluid absorption so that diarrhea is reduced
- Giving replacement fluids, such as ORS, to restore the balance of body fluids and electrolytes lost due to diarrhea
- Antiretroviral therapy, especially in cryptosporidiosis patients who also have HIV/AIDS, to inhibit the development of the virus and increase the body's resistance
Complications Kriptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis is not life threatening. However, patients with weakened immunity can experience dangerous complications. These complications include:
- Significant weight loss
- Severe dehydration
- Malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients by the intestines
- Inflammation of the bile ducts, liver, or pancreas
K . preventionriptosporidiosis
Until now there is no vaccine to prevent cryptosporidiosis. However, these infections can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene, such as:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after eating, and after changing diapers, using the toilet, and touching animals
- Washing food ingredients, such as vegetables and fruit, and avoiding food that is suspected to be contaminated with feces
- Cook drinking water until it's cooked and don't eat half-cooked food when you're going to an area where there are many cases of cryptosporidiosis
- Avoid swallowing public swimming pool water
