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Cryptosporidiosis in children of eastern India
V R Subramanyam1, R L Broadhead, B B Pal
1Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Bhubaneswar, India.
Insights
Cryptosporidium infection was linked to acute diarrhea in 13% of young children in India. Unlike other studies, no asymptomatic carriers were found, suggesting a direct link between infection and illness in this population.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cryptosporidium is a significant cause of diarrheal illness in children worldwide.
- Understanding the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infection in different regions is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and clinical associations of Cryptosporidium infection in children admitted with acute diarrhea.
- To identify potential risk factors and transmission patterns of Cryptosporidium in Bhubaneswar, India.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted over one year at Bhubaneswar Capital Hospital.
- Stool samples from 77 children under 8 with acute diarrhea were analyzed for Cryptosporidium oocysts.
- Control groups of children without diarrhea and healthy school children were also investigated.
Main Results:
- Cryptosporidium infection was detected in 10 out of 77 (13%) children with acute diarrhea.
- No asymptomatic carriers were found in control groups, contrasting with previous reports.
- Infection clustered during the rainy and winter seasons, with higher prevalence in children under 2 years.
- Seven of ten infected children were underweight for their age.
Conclusions:
- Cryptosporidium infection is associated with acute diarrheal disease in young children in this region of India.
- The absence of asymptomatic carriers suggests a direct transmission pathway in this population.
- Seasonal patterns and potential impact on child nutrition warrant further investigation.
Abstract:
Cryptosporidium infection was found in association with acute diarrhoeal disease in ten patients (13%) of a total of 77 children below the age of 8 years admitted over a period of 1 year to Bhubaneswar Capital Hospital, Orissa state, India. Contrary to another report from South India, there were no asymptomatic cryptosporidium oocyst excretors detected either in the matched control group of 42 children without diarrhoea or in a group of 113 healthy school children investigated. A clustering of seven cases occurred in the months of the rainy season and of three cases in the winter months. Nine out of 63 children (14.3%) below the age of 2 years were infected. Seven of the ten infected children were significantly below their expected weight-for-age, but the mean weight-for-age did not differ from those of the uninfected children. The possible epidemiological factors in the transmission of cryptosporidium are discussed.