Seasonality of cryptosporidiosis in children

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1996 Jan;15(1):77-9. doi: 10.1007/BF01586190.

Abstract

The seasonal distribution of cryptosporidiosis in children in Aragón, a region in northeastern Spain, was determined. Over a period of six years (October 1988 to September 1994), 10,034 stool samples from 4,508 children with gastrointestinal symptoms were analyzed for this purpose. The age of the patients ranged from 1 month to 14 years. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in 87 (1.93%) patients. Prevalence was highest (6.20%) in children aged 1 to 3 years old. The prevalence was significantly higher in the autumn-winter period (October to March) than in the spring-summer period (April to September) in the whole population (2.41% vs. 1.35%, p = 0.010) and in the 1- to 3-year-old age group (8.44% vs. 3.20%, p = 0.002), but not in the other age groups. A possible relationship of this pattern to attendance at child care centres is suggested.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Seasons