| Cryptosporidium
GMHC'S Nutrition & Wellness Program
WHAT IS CRYPTOSPORIDIUM?
Cryptosporidium, or "crypto" for short, is a single-celled parasite,
too small to be seen with the naked eye. It is found in human and
animal feces. People living with HIV, especially those with T cell
counts below 200, should be especially careful to avoid crypto.
HOW IS CRYPTO SPREAD?
Cryptosporidium is transmitted through oral-fecal contact. For
example, crypto can be spread by:
- eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with infected
feces (including water in swimming pools)
- touching your mouth without washing your hands after handling
feces or objects contaminated with feces
- by oral-anal contact (rimming)
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CRYPTO?
Cryptosporidium causes a flu-like illness. The major symptoms start
between 2 to 10 days after infection and may include: watery, chronic
diarrhea and stomach cramps. These symptoms might get worse after
you eat. Headaches, vomiting, low-grade fever, loss of appetite,
weight loss, and dehydration may also occur. If you have a weakened
immune system (especially if you have a T-cell count lower than
200) the symptoms may be worse and last longer.
HOW IS A CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION DIAGNOSED?
A stool sample is taken by your doctor for examination under a
microscope. Unless there are enough organisms in the stool to be
detected, the test may not be completely accurate.
HOW IS A CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION TREATED?
- There is no effective cure for crypto.
- Your doctor might give you medication (such as Humatin
and Azithryomycin) to help with the symptoms, but neither
drug is effective for everyone.
- Anti-diarrheal drugs may be temporarily helpful but ask your
doctor before starting them.
- If you have AIDS, antiretroviral therapy may help improve your
immune system and may help decrease the symptoms of crypto.
- While you're having diarrhea it's important to stay hydrated
and eat a nutritious diet.
HOW CAN I REDUCE MY RISK OF GETTING CRYPTOSPORIDIUM?
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially
after using the bathroom, before eating and preparing foods, after
changing diapers, touching animals, or after gardening.
Boil tap water for at least 1 minute to kill cryptosporidium;
chlorination of drinking water alone does not kill the organism.
Once the boiled water has cooled, pour it into clean, dry, containers.
Lemon or other flavorings may be added to improve the taste. Dishes,
silverware, pots and pans may be washed with tap water as long as
they are dry before they are used. Distilled water is also safe
to use instead of boiling tap water.
Use a personal water filter that is certified for "cyst
removal." The package should say that the filter is certified
by NSF International. The package may also say it uses a "standard
#53" filter, which is able to remove crypto. The Pur Ultimate
and Pur Plus brands are currently certified to removed
crypto. Brita filters DO NOT remove cryptosporidium but
may be used following proper filtration or boiling to improve taste.
Replace your filters according to schedule. Follow
the directions provided when you purchase your filter to ensure
that you filter is working at full capacity.
You can call NSF toll free at (877) 867-3435 if
you have any questions about purchasing a water filter. NSF is a
not for profit organization that works on issues of water safety.
If you choose bottled water, look for water that
is filtered to 1 micron or less. Safe choices of bottled water include:
Naya, Poland Spring, Fiji, SPA, Spring Valley, and Saratoga, among
others. You can call the Nutrition and Wellness Program at GMHC
if you have any questions.
Use only boiled, distilled or properly filtered
water to make ice cubes, brush your teeth, and dilute fruit juices
from concentrate. At restaurants beware of reconstituted fruit juices,
soda (from fountains), and ice cubes made with tap water. Commercially
bottled soft drinks/seltzer and pasteurized juices such as Tropicana
are safest.
Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables to remove
debris, then rinse with boiled (and cooled), distilled, or properly
filtered water before eating raw.
Avoid consuming unpasteurized milk products and
unpasteurized apple cider.
Avoid fecal exposure during sex. If you have oral/anal
contact (rimming), wash thoroughly before and after with soap and
water and use a latex barrier.
Try not to swallow water while swimming in recreational
pools. You can also protect others by avoiding swimming if you are
having diarrhea.
The GMHC kitchen is equipped with an EverPure water filtration
system. All fresh fruits and vegetables served are washed in filtered
water. In addition, ice cubes and the water used to make coffee
comes from this source.
IS NEW YORK CITY DRINKING WATER SAFE?
Low levels of crypto have been found in NYC drinking water. However,
it is not clear whether healthy or immunocompromised people will
get ill from these low levels. If you want to be on the safe side,
follow the recommendations listed above.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
The Treatment Education Program and Nutrition and Wellness Program
at GMHC are a great resource where you can get counseling and education
to help you reduce your risk of becoming infected with cryptosporidiosis.
For more information call (212) 367-1455.
Revised 2/03
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis |
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