Study of Cryptosporidium in children below five years of age with diarrhea in referring Ali-Asghar Pediatric Hospital of Zahedan

Cryptosporidium is a parasite with worldwide distribution, a significant cause of diarrhea in children and immunodeficient patients. In some country this parasite is either or fourth factor of diarrhea in children. In developing country the prevalence rate of disease is increased but because of specific method recognition in special survey, information about prevalence in our country isn’t completely available. From December to March in Zahedan, capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, 528 patient referred to Ali-Asghar Hospital, parasitology center, in 25 cases of whom Cryptosporidium Parvium was detected (4.7%). The prevalence rate of disease was more in the 1-2 age group. The infants who didn’t use mother milk were significantly more commonly infected and children in nursery school similarly more infected. The majority of cases were detected in summer and spring, although there was no significant relationship between season’s prevalence. Although some C.parvum cases harbored Giardia Lamblia, there was no relation between the two infections.