Evaluation of cryptosporidiosis in diarrheic children referred to Amir al Moemenin hospital, Semnan

Introduction: Cryptosporidium parvum, a coccidian parasite, has been shown to cause diarrhea in animals and human especially children and immunocompromised patients. This parasite has gained increasing attention since infection in human was first identified in 1976. However there are a few published evidences about Cryptosporidium infection in human and domestic animals in Iran, but there is no data in many parts of the country, because in routinely ova and parasite testing this parasite don't consider. To address the existence or lack of human cryptosporidiosis and probable prevalence of that in diarrheic children was evaluated. Materials and Methods: ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌The stool samples from 153 diarrheic children under 12 years were formalin-ether concentrated and tested by both modified Ziehl- Neelson (acid-fast) and rodamine staining. Results: Cryptosporidum parvum was detected in 5 (3.26%) cases (Confidence Interval 0.005- 6.1%, P=0.05). four boys (1, 3, 5 and 6 years old) and one girl (12 years old) were positive when tested with both staining methods. The only significant associated factor with cryptosporidiosis was contact with domestic animals (P=0.0026) and the infection was not associated with age, sex and breast-feeding in babies. Discussion: This study show Cryptosporidium infection in 3.26% of diarrheic children referred to hospital in Semnan. There was no statistically significant difference between this study and most reports from other parts of the country. Hence, it seems necessary to detect other microbial agents such as Cryptosporidium in routine examination of diarrheic patient's stool at least in children’s hospital or reference labs.