Additional FAQs

You can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite. Crypto may be found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces from infected humans or animals. Crypto is not spread by contact with blood.

A cow cannot consume feed or water that is infected with Cryptosporidium and then shed the parasite in her milk. Infected manure would have to get in the milk in order for it to be contaminated.

Symptoms of Crypto generally begin two to ten days (average seven days) after becoming infected with the parasite.

Symptoms include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Stomach cramps or pain
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Weight loss

Symptoms usually last about 1 to 2 weeks (with a range of a few days to 4 or more weeks) in people with healthy immune systems.

The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea. Some people with Crypto will have no symptoms at all.

Anyone can get sick with Crypto, but people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms.

Crypto lives in the gut of infected humans or animals. An infected person or animal sheds Crypto parasites in their poop. An infected person can shed 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 Crypto germs in a single bowel movement. Shedding of Crypto in poop begins when symptoms like diarrhea begin and can last for weeks after symptoms stop. Swallowing as few as 10 Crypto germs can cause infection.

Crypto can be spread by:

• Swallowing recreational water (for example, the water in swimming pools, fountains, lakes, rivers) contaminated with Crypto
  • Crypto’s high tolerance to chlorine enables the parasite to survive for long periods of time in chlorinated drinking and swimming pool water
• Drinking untreated water from a lake or river that is contaminated with Crypto
• Swallowing water, ice, or beverages contaminated with feces from infected humans or animals
• Eating undercooked food or drinking unpasteurized/raw apple cider or milk that gets contaminated with Crypto
• Touching your mouth with contaminated hands
  • Hands can become contaminated through a variety of activities, such as touching surfaces or objects (e.g., toys, bathroom fixtures, changing tables, diaper pails) that have been contaminated by feces from an infected person, changing diapers, caring for an infected person and touching an infected animal
• Exposure to feces from an infected person through oral or anal sexual contact

Crypto is not spread through contact with blood.

For diarrhea whose cause has not been determined, the following actions may help relieve symptoms:

• Drink plenty of fluids to remain well hydrated and avoid dehydration. Serious health problems can occur if the body does not maintain proper fluid levels. For some people, diarrhea can be severe resulting in hospitalization due to dehydration.
• Maintain a well-balanced diet. Doing so may help speed recovery.
• Avoid beverages that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee, and many soft drinks.
• Avoid alcohol, as it can lead to dehydration.

Contact your healthcare provider if you suspect that you have cryptosporidiosis.

Most people with healthy immune systems will recover from cryptosporidiosis without treatment. The following actions may help relieve symptoms:

• Drink plenty of fluids to remain well hydrated and avoid dehydration. Serious health problems can occur if the body does not maintain proper fluid levels. For some people, diarrhea can be severe resulting in hospitalization due to dehydration.
• Maintain a well-balanced diet. Doing so may help speed recovery.
• Avoid beverages that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee, and many soft drinks.
• Avoid alcohol, as it can lead to dehydration.

Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicine might help slow down diarrhea, but a healthcare provider should be consulted before such medicine is taken.

A drug called nitazoxanide has been FDA-approved for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium in people with healthy immune systems and is available by prescription. Consult with your healthcare provider for more information about potential advantages and disadvantages of taking nitazoxanide.