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- �. <br /> � � <br /> . <br /> • If you have a severely weakened immune system, you are at risk for more se�ious <br /> disease: Your symptoms may be more severe and could lead to serious or life- <br /> threatening illness. Examples of persons wlth weakened immune systems include <br /> those with HIV/AIDS; cancer and transplant patients who are taking certain <br /> immunosuppressive drugs; and those with inherited diseases that affed the immune <br /> system. <br /> What should I do if I think I may have cryptosporidiosis? <br /> If you suspect that you have cryptosporidiosis, see your heaith care provider. <br /> How is a cryptosporidiosis diagnosed? <br /> Your heaith care provider will ask you to submit stool samples to see if you are infected. <br /> Because testing for Crypto can be difficult, you may be asked to submit several stool <br /> specimens over several days. Tests for Crypto are not routinely done in most laboratories; <br /> therefore, your health care provider should specifically request testing for the parasite. <br /> What is the treatment for cryptosporidiosis? <br /> Although there is no standard treatment for cryptosporidiosis, the symptoms can be <br /> treated. Most people who have a healthy immune system will recover without treatment. <br /> If you have diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Rapid loss of fluids <br /> from diarrhea may be especially life threatening to babies; therefore, parents should talk <br /> to their health care provider about fluid replacement therapy options for infants. <br /> Antidiarrheal medicine may help slow down diarrhea, but talk to your health care provider <br /> before taking it. A new drug, nitazoxanide, has been approved for treatment of diarrhea <br /> caused by Cryptosporidium in healthy children less than 12 years old. Consult with your <br /> health care provider for more information. <br /> People who are in poor health or who have a weakened immune system are at higher risk <br /> for more severe and more prolonged illness. For persons with AIDS, anti-retroviral <br /> therapy that improves immune status will also decrease or eliminate symptoms of Crypto. <br /> However, even if symptoms disappear, cryptosporidiosis is usually not curable and the <br /> symptoms may return if the immune status worsens. See your health care provider to <br /> discuss anti-retroviral therapy used to improve your immune status. <br /> How can I prevent cryptosporidiosis? <br /> Practice good hygiene. <br /> 1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. a. Wash hands after using the toilet <br /> and before handling or eating food (especially for persons with diarrhea). b. Wash <br /> hands after every diaper change, especially if you work with diaper-aged children, <br /> even if you are wearing gloves. <br /> 2. Protect others by not swimming if you are experiencing diarrhea (essential for <br /> children in diapers). <br /> Avoid water that might be contaminated. <br /> 1. Do not swaltow recreational water For information on recreational water- <br /> 2. Do not drink untreated water from shallow related illnesses, v�sic c�c Healthy <br /> Swimming website at http:// <br /> wells, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, and www .cdc.gov/healthyswimming. <br /> streams. <br /> 3. Do not drink untreated water during community-wide outbreaks of disease caused by <br /> contaminated drinking water. <br /> 4. Do not use untreated ice or drinking water when tFaveling in countries where the <br />