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Cryptosporidium infections in children in Durban Seasonal variation, age distribution and disease status


D Moodley
T.F.H.G. Jackson
V Gathiram
J Van Den Ende

Abstract

One hundred and eleven of 1229 children (9%) aged < 10 years admitted to King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, with gastro-enteritis over a period of 1 year were found to harbour Cryptosporidium. Of these, 96 (89,7%) were < 2 years of age. Cryptosporidium was the only potential pathogen identified in 80 of these patients (6,50/0). The prevalence in paediatric patients without gastro-enteritis was 2,4% (3/124). During the study period Cryptosporidium infections were significantly more prevalent during the high rainfall season (P = 0,03).


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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574