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Asymptomatic Cryptosporidiosis in Children Living with HIV

Ajib Diptyanusa1,2, Ika Puspa Sari3, Agnes Kurniawan3

  • 1Center for Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
|November 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Cryptosporidiosis affects over 40% of children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Many cases are asymptomatic, highlighting the need for PCR screening in this vulnerable population.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) face heightened risks for opportunistic infections like cryptosporidiosis.
  • Cryptosporidiosis in children can lead to chronic diarrhea, impacting growth and cognitive development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in HIV-infected children.
  • To describe the clinical features and identify risk factors associated with cryptosporidiosis in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 children (6 months–18 years) with confirmed HIV infection.
  • Cryptosporidiosis diagnosis utilized microscopic examination followed by PCR of 18S rRNA gene.
  • Clinical data and risk factors were gathered via medical records and questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 42.3% among the studied HIV-infected children.
  • A significant proportion (68%) of infected children were asymptomatic; symptomatic cases presented with diarrhea and weight loss.
  • Independent risk factors included diarrhea, consumption of untreated well water, and drinking untreated water.

Conclusions:

  • A high prevalence of asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis exists in HIV-infected children.
  • PCR screening for Cryptosporidium is recommended for children with HIV due to the high asymptomatic rate.
  • Contaminated water sources are significant risk factors for cryptosporidiosis in this population.

Keywords:
HIVchildrendrinking wateropportunistic infection

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