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Cryptosporidiosis (krip-toh-spar-ihd-ee-OH-suhss) is a parasite, or a tiny living thing that lives off of and harms another living thing. This parasite is more commonly called crypto. A person with HIV who gets crypto is considered to have AIDS. You can get it if you put something in your mouth that has been in contact with the bowel movement or feces of a person or animal that has crypto. Most people who get crypto have watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, upset stomach, and fever. In some people, severe diarrhea leads to weight loss. Symptoms can last a long time in people with CD4 counts below 200. People with CD4 below 100 can experience severe weight loss, or wasting, with crypto. It can even affect the respiratory tract, which controls breathing. Crypto can also cause death.
You can help keep crypto out of your mouth by:
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 may reduce the symptoms of crypto. If you think you may have crypto, talk with your doctor.
Content last updated July 01, 2011.
Resources last updated July 01, 2011.
A federal government website managed by the
Office on Women's Health
in the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
at the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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