Cryptosporidia in immunocompetent patients with gastroenteritis.

In a prospective study Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in nine immunocompetent patients (0.6%). The frequency was remarkably higher in children in the 0 to 14 year age group (1.6%), surpassed only by Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. The predominant clinical features were watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Comparison of the epidemiological data of the patients with those of a control group showed that contact persons with enteritis and drinking of unpasteurized milk were significantly associated with cryptosporidiosis.