Women and HIV/AIDS - Living with HIV/AIDS - Opportunistic Infections

Crypto

Crypto (cryptosporidiosis) happens when you put something in your mouth that has been in contact with the bowel movement (BM) or poop of a person or animal that has crypto. While some people have no symptoms, other people get diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, appetite loss, vomiting, dehydration, and fever when they have crypto. Crypto can cause severe illness for a long time in people who have HIV. It can also cause death.

You can help keep crypto out of your mouth by

washing your hands

practicing safer sex (using a male or female latex condom correctly and consistently, for every sexual act)

not swallowing water when you swim

washing and cooking your food

drinking only safe water

Crypto can be treated, but no drug cures it. HIV drugs can decrease or get rid of crypto symptoms. However, crypto is usually not cured and may come back if the immune system gets weaker. Some drugs, such as paromomycin (par-o-mo-mi-sin) may reduce the symptoms of crypto. If you think you may have crypto, talk with your doctor.

Additional Information on Crypto:

Publications

You Can Prevent Crypto (Cryptosporidosis): A Guide for People with HIV Infection - This publication for HIV positive people explains what cryptosporidosis is and how to prevent it.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/brochure/oi_cryp.htm

Cryptosporidium Infection - The Division of Parasitic Diseases, part of the CDC, produced this fact sheet to educate the public about cryptosporidiosis, the symptoms, treatment and more.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cryptosporidiosis/factsht_cryptosporidiosis.htm...

Preventing Cryptosporidosis: A Guide for People with HIV/AIDS (Copyright © 2004 Project Inform) - This guide for people with HIV explains what cryptosporidosis is and how it is spread, treated, and prevented.

http://www.projectinform.org/info/cryptos/index.shtml

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Content last updated January 25, 2008.