AZITHROMYCIN THERAPY FOR CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-PARVUM INFECTION IN 4 CHILDREN INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Cryptosporidium parvum intestinal infection in immunodeficient patient s can cause severe intestinal fluid losses with severe dehydration or chronic diarrhea with malnutrition, Therapies tried in human beings an d animals include paromomycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, octreotid e, hyperimmune bovine colostrum, and bovine transfer factor, No specif ic therapy has been found to be consistently beneficial to children, W e report azithromycin treatment of four children with acquired immunod eficiency syndrome who had severe diarrheal illnesses in which Cryptos poridium parvum was the sole pathogen detected, Three of these childre n had a marked decrease in stool volume and frequency within 36 hours of initiating therapy and resolution of diarrhea within 5 days; Crypto sporidium organisms became undetectable on examination of stool or col onic biopsy or by both after therapy was discontinued, A fourth patien t required prolonged therapy with azithromycin to achieve clearance, A zithromycin therapy should be considered for immunocompromised patient s with intestinal Cryptosporidium infection.