Abstract |
Cryptosporidiosis is an important cause of diarrhea. We identified 95 patients with cryptosporidiosis over a 6-year period in our county hospital system, including 9 children and 86 adults infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Risk factors included male-to-male sexual practices and Hispanic race. Diarrhea, weight loss, and gastrointestinal complaints were the most common symptoms at presentation. Among the HIV-infected adults, 20 (23%) developed biliary tract disease. Biliary involvement was associated with low CD4 counts. Treatment with paromomycin and antimotility agents was effective in reducing diarrheal symptoms in 54 of 70 (77%) patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS), although there was a high rate of relapse. Paromomycin did not prevent the development of biliary disease. Biliary disease responded to cholecystectomy or sphincterotomy with stent placement. Though often a cause of morbidity, cryptosporidiosis was only rarely the cause of death, even among patients with HIV. Cryptosporidiosis continues to be an important medical problem even in developed-countries. Current methods of prevention and treatment are suboptimal.
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Authors | R Hashmey, N H Smith, S Cron, E A Graviss, C L Chappell, A C White Jr |
Journal | Medicine
(Medicine (Baltimore))
Vol. 76
Issue 2
Pg. 118-39
(Mar 1997)
ISSN: 0025-7974 [Print] United States |
PMID | 9100739
(Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Topics |
- AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
(complications, diagnosis)
- Adult
- Child
- Cholangitis, Sclerosing
(etiology)
- Cholecystitis
(etiology)
- Cryptosporidiosis
(complications, diagnosis, epidemiology)
- Female
- Humans
- Incidence
- Infant
- Male
- Opportunistic Infections
(complications, diagnosis)
- Recurrence
- Risk Factors
- Seasons
- Texas
(epidemiology)
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