CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZILIAN CHILDREN - ASSOCIATION WITH INCREASED DIARRHEA MORBIDITY

To evaluate the impact of Cryptosporidium infection on diarrheal disea se burden and nutrition status, a nested case-control study was done a mong children who were followed from birth in Fortaleza, Brazil. The d iarrhea history and growth records of 43 children with a symptomatic d iarrhea episode of cryptosporidiosis (case-children) were compared wit h those of 43 age-matched controls with no history of cryptosporidiosi s. After Cryptosporidium infection, case-children less than or equal t o 1 year old experienced an excessive and protracted (nearly 2 years) diarrheal disease burden. Case-children less than or equal to 1 year o ld with no history of diarrhea prior to their Cryptosporidium infectio n also experienced a subsequent increased diarrheal disease burden wit h an associated decline in growth. Control subjects experienced no cha nge in their diarrhea burden over time. This study suggests that an ep isode of symptomatic Cryptosporidium infection in children less than o r equal to 1 year of age is a marker for increased diarrhea morbidity.