ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIAGE OF INTESTINAL CRYPTOSPORIDIUM IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT AND IMMUNODEFICIENT CHILDREN - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Little information is available on asymptomatic carriage of Cryptospor idium in immunocompetent and immunodeficient children, We prospectivel y studied a group of asymptomatic children, 78 immunocompetent and 50 immunodeficient, to document the incidence of asymptomatic carriage of cyptosporidiosis in such a population. We also investigated whether t he treatment of children who carried asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis co uld help in reducing their risk of gastrointestinal symptoms as well a s the shedding of infectious oocysts. The occurrence of multiple infec tions with common intestinal pathogens including Giardia lamblia was a lso investigated. Asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis was documented in 6.4 % of immunocompetent and 22% of immunodeficient children. In a control symptomatic population Cryptosporidium was found in 4.4% of immunocom petent and 4.8% of immunodeficient children. Asymptomatic carriage of Cryptosporidium was documented in 2 human immunodeficiency virus-infec ted children, one of whom also carried Giardia asymptomatically. Treat ment with spiramycin (100 mg/kg daily for 14 days) reduced significant ly the duration of the shedding of potentially infectious oocysts, Fin ally no gastrointestinal symptoms developed in children treated for as ymptomatic infection with Cryptosporidium, whereas children who were n ot treated developed gastrointestinal symptoms.