Prevalence of cryptosporidium in children with acute diarrhea.

Cryptosporidium is an intestinal protozoa known to cause diarrhea in animals and more recently has been recognised as a cause of diarrhea in humans. The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of cryptosporidium as a cause of diarrhea in children. Faecal samples of 180 children admitted to the hospital for acute gastroenteritis and from 100 normal children were analysed. Eight out of 180 (4.4%) stools from children with acute diarrhea and none from normal showed cryptosporidi. We conclude that this parasite does play a role in the etiology of human diarrhea.