Can i get cryptosporidium again

Symptoms usually last about 1 to 2 weeks with a range of a few days to 4 or more weeks in people with healthy immune systems. The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea.

Some people with Crypto will have no symptoms at all. People who are most likely to become infected with Cryptosporidium include 1 , 2 :. Contaminated water might include water that has not been boiled or filtered, as well as contaminated recreational water sources e. Several community-wide outbreaks have been linked to drinking tap water or recreational water contaminated with Cryptosporidium.

This means anyone swallowing contaminated water could get ill. Note: Although Crypto can infect all people, some groups are likely to develop more serious illness. For more information, visit General Information for Immunocompromised Persons. For diarrhea whose cause has not been determined, the following actions may help relieve symptoms:. Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease that is spread through contact with the stool of an infected person or animal.

The disease is diagnosed by examining stool samples. Healthcare providers should specifically request testing for Crypto. Routine ova and parasite testing does not normally include Crypto testing. Most people with healthy immune systems will recover from cryptosporidiosis without treatment. The following actions may help relieve symptoms:.

Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicine might help slow down diarrhea, but a healthcare provider should be consulted before such medicine is taken. A drug called nitazoxanide has been FDA-approved for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium in people with healthy immune systems and is available by prescription. Consult with your healthcare provider for more information about potential advantages and disadvantages of taking nitazoxanide. Note: Infants, young children, and pregnant women may be more likely than others to suffer from dehydration.

Losing a lot of fluids from diarrhea can be dangerous—and especially life-threatening in infants. You can get this infection after eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with stool.

This includes swallowing water while swimming. You can also get infected if you touch things or surfaces contaminated with stool. You can also get the infection from another person. The parasite has an outer shell. Because of this, using chlorine to clean water may not kill the parasite. Crypto is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the U. The parasite is found throughout the world. But you are more likely to get the infection if you travel to rural areas in developing countries.

Or if you often eat or drink in areas where sanitation is poor. Outbreaks have also occurred in the U. The disease is spread by accidentally swallowing anything that has come into contact with the stool of a person or animal with the infection.

This includes:. Cryptosporidiosis is normally not a serious disease in healthy people. But it can lead to a life-threatening illness for people with a weak immune system.

Those at risk are:. You may not have any symptoms. If symptoms do develop, they often last about 2 weeks and sometimes longer. But even if you have no symptoms, the parasite is passed in your stool for up to 2 months. During this time you are at risk of spreading the infection to others. Most people with a healthy immune system do not need to be treated as cryptosporidiosis will resolve on its own.

In those who have weak immune systems, the focus of treatment is often on getting the immunity back. Otherwise, a medicine called nitazoxanide can be used to treat this parasite. No treatment works fully against the infection. If you have a healthy immune system, you will likely recover on your own. People who are in poor health or have a weak immune system may get a more serious infection. In some cases, you may need to take medicine for diarrhea.

There is no vaccine to prevent cryptosporidiosis. If you have cryptosporidiosis, how do you limit spread to other people? Cryptosporidium can be quite contagious. These simple measures will reduce the likelihood of spread:. Who is most at risk for cryptosporidiosis? People who are most likely to become infected with cryptosporidium include:. During an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, what measures will be taken to protect people's health?

If drinking water is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated , a Boil Water Notice may be put in place. Householders will be instructed to boil any water that will be used for:. Water should be bought to the boil to make sure the parasite is killed and then left to cool. Do not use ice or cold drinks made with unboiled water.

Information on inadequate treatment of drinking water is available on the HSE website. If a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once rolling boil for 1 minute and cooled beforehand.