Esophageal cryptosporidiosis in a child with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Oral Candida and Candida esophagitis are common findings in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The intestinal protozoan, Cryptosporidium, is known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms in these patients. We report a 2-yr-old child with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, who had oral candidiasis, dysphagia, and vomiting. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and esophageal biopsy led to a diagnosis of esophageal cryptosporidiosis. We recommend upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as a diagnostic tool in selected patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This is in contradistinction to a previous report that concludes that endoscopy is not necessary in this setting.