آلودگي به كريپتوسپوريديوم در كودكان مبتلا به اسهال مراجعه كننده به آزمايشگاه مركزي شهر كاشان (80-1379)

Cryptosporidium Infection among Children Referring to central laboratory of Kashan, 1999-2000

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the pathogenic parasites of human with different prevalence in each region of the world including our country. This is a self limited parasitic infection which may produce sever fatal disease in immuno deficient patients. Due to lack of information about the rate of human infections by this parasite in Kashan, a study was conducted to determine the rate of infection by this parasite in the children with diarrhea referred to central laboratory of Kashan during 1999-2000. A cross sectional descriptive study was performed on 240 stool samples taken by sampling from children suffering from intestinal discomforts. Formalin-ether concentration of fecal samples and warm Ziehl-Neelsen stain method was used and the smears were studied under light microscope. The highest rate of prevalence was found in rural areas and children over five years of age. The prevalence of infection in the hot seasons (that is spring and summer) of the year was also more than the cold seasons (that is autumn and winter). It was also observed that the prevalence of infection in those people who were in contact with catties was more than others. Keeping in view the 3.75% prevalence of cryptosporidum infection among children under research, it is hereby recommended that the diagnostic centers pay more attention to this parasite particularly in those cases of diarrhea where no other pathogenic agent is found in stool.