FREQUENCY OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM IN CHILDHOOD DIARRHOEA- IMPORTANCE OF MODIFIED ACID FAST TECHNIQUE
Abstract
Background: One of the important causes of childhood diarrhoea is cryptosporidium, a parasitic pathogen which is usually overlooked. This study was therefore designed to show the importance of modified acid fast stain in the diagnosis of cryptosporidium in childhood diarrhoea. Methods: Stool samples from 300 children with prolonged diarrhoea were examined by modified acid fast staining along with wet mounts in saline and iodine. Results: Out of 300 samples five (1.7%) were diagnosed as positive for cryptosporidium. Conclusion: Results indicate that Cryptospori-diosis exists as a cause of diarrhoeal illness in our society. It was also noted that modified acid fast staining of stool samples is an important, non-invasive and useful diagnostic technique in identification of cryptosporidium.Key words: Cryptosporidium. Childhood diarrhea, Modified acid fast techniqueReferences
Esteban JG, Aguirre C, Flores A, Strauss W, Angles Rene, MasComa S. High cryptosporidium prevalence in healthy Aymara children. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1998; 58:50-55.
Nime FA, Burck D, Page DL, Holscher MA, Yardley JH. Acute enterocolitis in a human being infected with protozoan cryptosporidium. Gastroenterology 1976; 70:592-6.
Meisel JL, Perera DR, Meligro C, Rubin CE. Over whelming watery diarrhoea associated with cryptosporidium in an immunosuppressed patient. Gastroenterology 1976;70:1156-60.
Xian ZUS, Fen LIJ, Barrett LJ, Fayer R, Shu SY, McAuliffe JF et al. Seroepidemiologic study of cryptosporidium infection in children from rural communities of Anhui, China. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1994; 51:1-10.
Molbak K, Wested N, Hojlying N, Scheutz F, Gottschau A, Aaby P et al. The etiology of early childhood diarrhoea A community based study from Guinea Bissau. J Infect Dis 1994;169:581-7.
Checkley W, Epstein LD, Gilman RH, Black RE, Cabrera L, Sterling CR. Effects of cryptosporidium parvum infection in Peruvian children. Am J Epidemiol 1998; 148:497-506.
Goodgame RW. Understanding intestinal spore forming protozoa. Ann Intern Med 1996; 124:429-41.
Mosier DA, Oberst RD. Cryptosporidiosis. A global challenge. Annals New York Acad Sci 2000; 916:102-11.
Newman KD, Zu SX, Wuhib T, Lima AA, Guerrant RL, Sears CL. House hold epidemiology of cryptosporidium parvum infection in an urban community in northern Brazil. Ann Intern Med 1994; 120:518-19.
Baqai R. Cryptosporidium in diarrhoeal disease (editorial). JPMA 1990; 40:174-5.
WHO Basic Laboratory methods in Medical Parasitology. Geneva WHO 1991.
Kosek M, Alcantara C, Lima AA, Guerrant RL. Cryptosporidiosis. An Update. Lancet Infect Dis 2001; 4:262-9.
Morin CA, Roberts CL, Patricia A, Addis DG, James LH. What do physicians know about cryptosporidiosis? Arch Intern Med 1997; 157:1017-22.
Flegg PJ. Cryptosporidium in travelers from Pakistan. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1987; 81: 171-81.
Memon MM. Cryptosporidium A waterborne pathogen. Pak J Med Res 1997; 36:47-9.
Abbas Z, Sheikh H, Jafri SMW, Khan AH, Protracted cryptosporidiosis in adults diagnosed by distal duodenal biopsies. Specialist 1994;10:273-5.
Pereira MD, Atwill ER, Barbosa AP, Silva A, Garcia ZMT. Intra-familial and extra-familial risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium parvum infection among children hospitalized for diarrhoea in Goiania, Goias, Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2002; 66:787-93.