Cryptosporidiosis in Kuwaiti children: seasonality and endemicity

Objective To detect the incidence of cryptosporidial infection in children presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms at the local hospital in Kuwait. Methods Over a period of 3 years, September 1995 to August 1997, a single f ecal sample from 3549 children was analyzed by modified saframin-methylene blue (SM-B) staining and a direct immunofluorescence test for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Results Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 51 (10%) children with dia rrhea. Prevalence was highest (73%) in children > 2 years of age compared w ith children < 2 years of age. The maximum number of cases, 38 of 51 (75%), was seen during the months of January to April, indicating a marked season al variation. Polyparasitism was common in children with diarrhea; however, 43 of the 51 (84%) children with cryptosporidiosis had cryptosporidium inf ection only. Blastocystis hominis and Endolimax nana were the most common p arasites detected (38% and 15% respectively). Forty-seven of the 51 (90%) c hildren with cryptosporidiosis were Kuwaiti and gave no history of travel a broad, suggesting that the infection was acquired indigenously. Sociodemogr aphic information on children with cryptosporidiosis suggests three possibl e modes of transmission of infection: drinking contaminated water stored in overhead water tanks, person to person, or contact with infected animals. Conclusion In this study we observed water-borne transmission of cryptospor idium infection in chidren with diarrhea. The infection is seasonal and end emic.