Cryptosporidiosis in persons with HIV infection.

Cryptosporidium parvum is an ubiquitous protozoan parasite that is a major cause of diarrhoea in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The hallmarks of infection include profuse watery diarrhoea which may become chronic in the severely immunosuppressed individual. No uniformly effective therapy exists. Current treatment relies upon a trial of anti-retroviral and specific anti-cryptosporidial medications, adequate fluid and nutritional support, and anti-motility agents.