SEASONALITY OF CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN CHILDREN

The seasonal distribution of cryptosporidiosis in children in Aragon, a region in northeastern Spain, was determined, Over a period of six y ears (October 1988 to September 1994), 10,034 stool samples from 4,508 children with gastrointestinal symptoms were analyzed for this purpos e, The age of the patients ranged from 1 month to 14 years. Cryptospor idium oocysts were identified in 87 (1.93%) patients, Prevalence was h ighest (6.20%) in children aged 1 to 3 years old, The prevalence was s ignificantly higher in the autumn-winter period (October to March) tha n in the spring-summer period (April to September) in the whole popula tion (2.41% vs, 1.35%, p = 0.010) and in the 1- to 3-year-old age grou p (8.44% vs, 3.20%, p = 0.002), but not in the other age groups, A pos sible relationship of this pattern to attendance at child care centres is suggested.