Intestinal Infection: How to Prevent Crypto

Cryptosporidiosis is a nasty intestinal infection that causes diarrhea. It's often spread from swallowing water that's been contaminated with feces (human or animal).

Kids often get this illness from accidentally swallowing water from contaminated swimming pools, fountains, rivers, lakes and streams. It can quickly spread around day care centers or may show up in a few days or up to two weeks after a camping or swimming trip. You can also get it from eating contaminated food that hasn't been properly washed.

"Crypto," as it's commonly called, causes uncomfortable, watery diarrhea. Other symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea and sometimes fever. In most healthy adults, crypto usually goes away on its own within a week or two. But babies, older adults or anyone with a weak immune system can develop problems like dehydration.

Good hygiene can prevent many cases of crypto. Here are some tips on preventing this intestinal infection:

• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers and before handling food.
• Wash and/or peel fruits and veggies.
• Don't swallow water in pools, lakes, rivers, streams, fountains or hot tubs.
• Wash hands after visiting petting zoos or touching farm animals.
• Don't swim when you have diarrhea - and for at least two weeks after diarrhea stops. This is especially important for babies in diapers.
• Drink bottled water, especially when traveling to developing countries or areas where water may be unsafe.
• Use safe, uncontaminated water to wash foods.
• Boil or filter water that could be contaminated.
• Avoid contact with feces during sexual activity.

If you have diarrhea, no matter what the cause, be sure to prevent dehydration by sipping liquids frequently while you're sick. You may also need to replace lost electrolytes, the minerals in your body such as sodium and potassium. Things that might help include sports drinks, Pedialyte®, soft drinks and other clear liquids, such as soup broth. Avoid milk and milk products.

Call your doctor if the diarrhea doesn't go away in a few days or if it is severe. Also call if there are other symptoms, such as fever, abdominal pain or blood in the stool.

Contact the doctor right away when infants, elderly people or people who have weak immune systems develop diarrhea.

Related Articles Poolside Guide to Recreational Water Illnesses

External Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases. Cryptosporidium infection-cryptosporidiosis. Accessed September 24, 2007. Auerbach. Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby, Inc. 2007; Chapter 62. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Diarrhea. Dated March, 2007. Accessed September 25, 2007.

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