Cryptosporidiosis among orphanage children in Thailand: a one year prospective study.

The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and other parasitic infections was studied among the orphanage children in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, during May 1986--April 1987. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in fecal specimens of 22 out of 303 diarrheal cases (7.3%) by using a modified cold Kinyoun acid-fast technique. None were found among 513 children without diarrhea. Most of the cryptosporidiosis cases were those under 3 years old. The duration of diarrhea in 20 cases varied from 1 to 25 days (mean = 6.6 days). All cases recovered uneventfully without repeated infection. No sexual preponderance was found. Most of the infections were documented during March to June when both temperature and rainfall were high. It was also noted that these children had high rates of other parasitic infections, 38.1% of the total population. Thus, cryptosporidiosis was not uncommon among children with diarrhea and could be detected almost throughout the year.