Cryptosporidium in Khartoum, Sudan.

Diarrhoea caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium has been shown in several tropical countries to be an important health problem, particularly in children. Although infection is often associated with contact with animals, it may also occur through person to person transmission and via contaminated water or food. We have undertaken a cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in children with diarrhoea and in their family contacts, and also investigated its occurrence in adult food handlers. Sixteen of 100 children with diarrhoea and none of the controls, were positive for Cryptosporidium. In addition, seven children had one or more sibs with diarrhoea who also excreted Cryptosporidium. None of the food handlers or asymptomatic children were positive. The results confirm earlier findings that Cryptosporidium is an important cause of diarrhoea in children in Sudan, and suggest that intrafamilial spread occurs.