Biomaterial Database

Cryptosporidiosis in well-nourished and malnourished children. 1987

D E Macfarlane, and J Horner-Bryce

During a 5-month period, 513 stool samples submitted to the enteric laboratory at the University Hospital of the West Indies were examined for Cryptosporidium. Oocysts were detected in 4.9% of all stools, 7.3% of diarrhoeal stools, 19.5% of stools from malnourished children and 23.7% of stools from malnourished children with diarrhoea. Cryptosporidium was the sole pathogen detected in all 25 positive stools, and was the second most frequent enteric isolate. All cases of cryptosporidiosis occurred in children less than 2.5 years of age. All 15 malnourished children were admitted to hospital where they presented with dehydration (87%), vomiting (93%), fever (100%) and diarrhoea which lasted an average of 15.3 days. Two of these children died. In contrast, dehydration (20%), vomiting (40%) and fever (50%) were less common and diarrhoea less protracted in well-nourished children, four of whom were admitted to hospital. This preliminary report suggests that cryptosporidial gastroenteritis presents with increased frequency and severity in malnourished compared with well-nourished Jamaican children.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007227	Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena	Nutritional physiology of children from birth to 2 years of age.	Infant Nutrition Physiology,Nutrition Physiology, Infant,Complementary Feeding,Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomenon,Infant Nutritional Physiology,Supplementary Feeding,Complementary Feedings,Feeding, Complementary,Feeding, Supplementary,Feedings, Complementary,Feedings, Supplementary,Nutritional Physiology, Infant,Physiology, Infant Nutrition,Physiology, Infant Nutritional,Supplementary Feedings
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007563	Jamaica	An island in the Greater Antilles in the West Indies. Its capital is Kingston. It was discovered in 1494 by Columbus and was a Spanish colony 1509-1655 until captured by the English. Its flourishing slave trade was abolished in the 19th century. It was a British colony 1655-1958 and a territory of the West Indies Federation 1958-62. It achieved full independence in 1962. The name is from the Arawak Xaymaca, rich in springs or land of springs. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p564 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p267)
D008297	Male		Males
D009748	Nutrition Disorders	Disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition.	Nutritional Disorders,Nutrition Disorder,Nutritional Disorder
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003457	Cryptosporidiosis	Intestinal infection with organisms of the genus CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. It occurs in both animals and humans. Symptoms include severe DIARRHEA.	Cryptosporidium Infection,Cryptosporidioses,Cryptosporidium Infections,Infection, Cryptosporidium
D003906	Developing Countries	Countries in the process of change with economic growth, that is, an increase in production, per capita consumption, and income. The process of economic growth involves better utilization of natural and human resources, which results in a change in the social, political, and economic structures.	LMICs,Less-Developed Countries,Low Income Countries,Low and Middle Income Countries,Lower-Middle-Income Country,Middle Income Countries,Third-World Countries,Under-Developed Countries,Developing Nations,Least Developed Countries,Less-Developed Nations,Third-World Nations,Under-Developed Nations,Countries, Middle Income,Countries, Third-World,Country, Least Developed,Country, Less-Developed,Country, Low Income,Country, Lower-Middle-Income,Country, Middle Income,Country, Third-World,Country, Under-Developed,Developed Country, Least,Developing Country,Developing Nation,Least Developed Country,Less Developed Countries,Less Developed Nations,Less-Developed Country,Less-Developed Nation,Low Income Country,Lower Middle Income Country,Lower-Middle-Income Countries,Middle Income Country,Nation, Less-Developed,Nation, Third-World,Nation, Under-Developed,Third World Countries,Third World Nations,Third-World Country,Third-World Nation,Under Developed Countries,Under Developed Nations,Under-Developed Country,Under-Developed Nation