Cryptosporidiosis in children in Gaza

Summary

A prospective survey of children admitted with gastro-enteritis to the Nasser Children's Hospital, Gaza revealed that 19% were excreting Cryptosporidium, a significantly (p<0.001) greater percentage than that (7%) observed in children admitted for other reasons. Detection of Cryptosporidium decreased when the change from hot dry to colder wetter weather occurred. Although Salmonella spp were isolated more frequently than Cryptosporidium in children with diarrhoea (20% of cases), there was no statistically significant association between excretion of Salmonella spp and gastroenteritis. A follow-up study of a cohort of the children with cryptosporidiosis indicated that over three-quarters were dehydrated and all were below their expected weight-for-age. There was a statistically significant association between Cryptosporidium gastro-enteritis and evidence of respiratory tract infection.