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Questions and Answers
What is it?
Cryptosporidium is a parasite that infects man and a
wide range of domestic and wild animals. In healthy adults and
children it causes diarrhoea lasting for up to two weeks.
In adults and children with severely impaired immunity the
infection can be serious.
How is cryptosporidiosis spread?
It can be spread through person to person contact, from
contaminated food, poorly operated swimming pools or contaminated
drinking water.
The environmentally resistant form of the parasite, the
oocyst, is excreted in the faeces of infected animals and
humans.
Pollution of watercourses can occur an there is evidence that
sewage effluents discharged to rivers used for drinking water
abstraction can play a role in recycling oocysts excreted by
infected humans.
Cryptosporidium poses a challenge to water treatment
processes because of its small size and resistance to disinfection
processes. There have been a number of drinking water-related
outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis in the past sometimes affecting
large numbers of people.
What precautions can be taken against
cryptosporidiosis?
Personal hygiene is very important, particularly if there is
someone with diarrhoea in the household or if farm animals or sick
pets have been handled.
Hand washing is important after using the toilet, or as soon
as possible after touching potential sources of infection (ie
farmyard animals or sick pets, manure on the ground, or people with
diarrhoea).
Good hygiene is particularly important before handling
food.
Is anyone particularly at risk from this
infection?
It is only a severe risk for people who have an impaired immune
system.
People with impaired immunity are advised to boil drinking
water before consumption at all times, even if it is bottled.
Contact your doctor if you think you might be affected.
What treatment is available for
cryptosporidiosis?
The infection will usually clear up by itself in a healthy
person, and taking antibiotics is not normally
advised. It is generally good advice to increase your fluid intake
when you have diarrhoea.
Are there special dangers to pregnant
women?
Not specifically related to Cryptosporidium. Pregnant
women who develop continuing diarrhoea should seek advice from
their GP. Cryptosporidium is not a virus (rubella and
other viruses can cause damage to the fetus if caught by mothers in
pregnancy): it is a protozoan parasite which is not transmitted to
the fetus.
If I am ill with cryptosporidiosis, can I pass it on to someone
else?
Yes, this is probably a common means of passing the infection
on. It is important that you and your relatives/carers pay
particular attention to hygiene and hand-washing, particularly
before eating. If you are unwell, it is advisable to avoid handling
or preparing food for others to eat.
Is it necessary to boil drinking water?
Cryptosporidium is killed by boiling and people with
severely impaired immune systems are advised to continue to boil
drinking water before consumption at all times, as they would
normally do.
Are pets affected?
Household pets can become infected with
Cryptosporidium.
What are the public health authorities doing about
this?
The public health authorities, the environmental health officers
and the water suppliers are working together to ensure that any
possible risks to the public are kept to a minimum.
What should I do if I become ill?
This infection will usually clear up by itself in a healthy
person, although this may take several days. You should telephone
NHS Direct or consult your GP if the diarrhea is unduly prolonged
or if you are at all concerned or if the affected person is very
young, elderly or frail. It is generally recommended to increase
your fluid intake if you have diarrhoea.
I am a dialysis patient. Can you offer
advice?
Cryptosporidiosis is a gut disease and there is no risk of
contracting it during dialysis. If you have any other concerns
please contact your dialysis administrator.
Does this have any implications for swimming pool
operation?
The risk of illness from using a swimming pool should be
minimal. Closure of swimming pools is not normally considered
necessary. It is important that people who have been ill do not use
public swimming pools for two weeks after they have recovered.
Does this have any implications for nurseries and care
homes?
There are no specific actions for nurseries and care homes other
than good hygiene and exclusion if cases of diarrhoea occur, as is
normal practice anyway.
More
information is available on the Health Protection Agency web site
>>
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