Cryptosporidium

 

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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