Key points
- Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover from cryptosporidiosis (typically diarrhea lasting days to weeks) without treatment.
- Nitazoxanide is a prescription medication to treat cryptosporidiosis in people with healthy immune systems and at least one year old.
Treatment overview
Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the germ Cryptosporidium. The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is diarrhea lasting from days to weeks. Cryptosporidiosis can be managed by drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Young children and pregnant women might be more susceptible to dehydration and should drink plenty of fluids while ill. Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover from cryptosporidiosis without treatment.
Rapid loss of fluids from diarrhea can be especially life threatening to children less than one year old. Parents and other primary caregivers should talk to their infant's healthcare provider about fluid replacement therapy options.
Treatment options
Anti-diarrheal medicine might help slow down diarrhea, but a healthcare provider should be consulted before such medicine is taken.
Nitazoxanide is a medication that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat cryptosporidiosis in people with healthy immune systems who are at least one year old. Nitazoxanide is available by prescription. The effectiveness of nitazoxanide to treat cryptosporidiosis in people with weakened immune systems is unclear.
People with weakened immune systems
People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of more severe and prolonged illness. HIV-infected people who suspect they have cryptosporidiosis should contact their healthcare provider. For people infected with HIV, anti-retroviral therapy can rebuild the immune system, which can decrease or eliminate symptoms of cryptosporidiosis. However, even if symptoms go away, cryptosporidiosis is often not curable, and the symptoms can return if immune status worsens.