Cryptosporidiosis in children with and without diarrhea in Kermanshah from 2011-12‎

Introduction: Cryptosporidiosis is caused by various species of protozoan Cryptosporidium. This disease has more importance in children and immunosuppressive individuals. In this study, some of the epidemiologic features of infection with Cryptosporidium in diarrheic and non-diarrheic Children admitted to some hospitals of
Kermanshah city were studied from 2011-12.
Methods: In this descriptive study, 480 diarrheic and 220 non diarrheic Children in the ages of ≤15 years old were studied. Epidemiological information of Patients was collected using a questionnaire. Stool samples of the patients concentrated by formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique and after staining with modified Ziehl-Neelsen, were examined for presence of oocysts of Cryptosporidium by light microscope. The intensity of infection in
each sample was detected using a semi quantitative method. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software.
Results: Of the 700 studied children, 15 (2.14%) were found to be infected with Cryptosporidium. Nine of the patients were female and six of them were male. The highest and lowest rate of infection were seen in the age groups of 4-6 (6.25%) and 13-15 (0.83%) years old, respectively There was statistical difference between the rate of cryptosporidial infection in diarrheic and non-diarrheic children. The intensity of infection in most of the children (93.3%) was assessed as 1+. Most of the patients were living in urban areas.
Conclusion: Although the overall rate of infection with Cryptosporidium showed a significant decrease compared to previous years, but it seems that this infection especially in diarrheic children under 5 years old must be in consideration.