Treatment:

There are several treatments for cryptosporidium enteritis.

Drugs such as nitazoxanide have been used in children and adults. Other drugs that are sometimes used include:

• Atovaquone
• Azithromycin
• Metronidazole
• Paromomycin
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

However, these drugs often only help for a little while. It is common for the infection to return.

The best approach is to improve the immune status in people who have a weakened immune system. This can be done by using highly active antiviral therapy in people with AIDS. It can lead to a complete remission of cryptosporidium enteritis.

Expectations (prognosis):

In healthy people, the infection will clear up, but it can last up to a month. In people who are immunosuppressed, long-term diarrhea may cause weight loss and malnutrition.

Complications:

• Cholangitis (inflammation of a bile duct)
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Hepatitis
• Malabsorption (not enough nutrients being absorbed from the intestinal tract)
• Pancreatitis
• Wasting syndrome (loss of body mass where the person becomes very thin and weak)

Calling your health care provider:

Notify your health care provider if you develop watery diarrhea that does not go away within a few days, especially if you are immunosuppressed.