Complications

Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
variable
medium

Severe dehydration may occur in immunocompromised patients and young children. Carers should ensure adequate oral intake of fluids to prevent dehydration. In cases in which dehydration has occurred, prompt correction of hydration is required, usually with oral rehydration solution, or with intravenous fluid if oral intake is impaired.

variable
low

A result of biliary tract involvement in severely immunocompromised people. Diagnosis can be confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and biopsy, and sending bile for testing for Cryptosporidium.

variable
low

A result of biliary tract involvement in severely immunocompromised people. Diagnosis can be confirmed by ERCP and biopsy, and sending bile for testing for Cryptosporidium.

Improving the patient's immune function, where possible, may lead to improvement. Colonisation of the biliary tract offers the parasite protection from luminal agents such as paromomycin; an agent with biliary excretion such as nitazoxanide is therefore recommended.

variable
low

A result of pancreatobiliary involvement in severely immunocompromised people. Diagnosis can be confirmed by ERCP and biopsy.

variable
low

A result of sclerosing cholangitis. Liver biopsy confirms the diagnosis.

variable
low

Studies show that symptoms meeting the criteria for irritable bowel syndrome are reported in 10% to 14% of people who have recovered from cryptosporidiosis at 12 months post-infection.[110][111]

variable
low

Rarely, in patients with HIV infection, gas-containing cysts may occur in the gut wall and may rupture, resulting in pneumoretroperitoneum and pneumomediastinum.[1]

variable
low

Sinusitis has also been very rarely described in severely immunocompromised patients with cryptosporidiosis.[64][65]

variable
low

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome has been very rarely described in immunocompromised patients with extra-intestinal cryptosporidiosis.[115]

variable
low

Tracheobronchial involvement has occurred rarely in severely immunocompromised patients.

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer