Table 2. Longitudinal detection of Cryptosporidium in stool and respiratory tract and associated symptoms.
| Characteristics | Study period | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment (n = 37) | 2 weeksa (n = 27) | 4 weeksb (n = 24) | 6 weeksc (n = 26) | 8 weeksd (n = 25) | |
| Cryptosporidium detection | |||||
| Detection in NP | 4 (11%) | 5 (19%) | 2 (8%) | 1 (4%) | 2 (8%) |
| NP Ct values (SD) | 33.5 (1.0) | 33.7 (2.0) | 35.6 (0.6) | 35.7 | 36.6 (0.7) |
| Detection in sputum | 11 (31%) | 10 (37%) | 10 (42%) | 8 (31%) | 5 (20%) |
| Sputum Ct values (SD) | 31.1 (4.4) | 29.9(3.6) | 33.0 (2.6) | 34.3 (2.9) | 35.7 (2.6) |
| Detection in GI tract | 37 (100%) | 22 (81%) | 16 (67%) | 11 (42%) | 11 (44%) |
| Stool Ct values (SD) | 28.8 (4.3) | 26.0 (4.5) | 30.3 (2.8) | 31.3 (3.5) | 29.9 (4.1) |
| Detection in respiratory tract only | 0 | 0 | 1 (4%) | 3 (8%) | 2 (8%) |
| Detection in GI tract only | 27 (73%) | 12 (43%) | 7 (29%) | 5 (19%) | 8 (32%) |
| Detection in respiratory and GI tract | 10 (27%) | 9 (33%) | 9 (26%) | 6 (23%) | 3 (12%) |
| Presentation | |||||
| Referral to health facility for an illness in the past 7 days | 36 (100%) | 10 (37%) | 6 (25%) | 5 (19%) | 7 (28%) |
| Diarrhea in the past 7 days | 36 (100%) | 0 | 2 (8%) | 4 (15%) | 3 (12%) |
| Respiratory symptoms in the past 7 dayse | 26 (72%) | 9/10 (90%) | 4/6 (67%) | 2/5(40%) | 5/7 (71%) |
| Cough | 24 (69%) | 5/10 (50%) | 2/6 (33%) | 2/5 (40%) | 5/7 (71%) |
| Runny nose | 16 (46%) | 7/10 (70%) | 4/6 (67%) | 1/5 (20%) | 3/7 (43%) |
| Difficulty in breathing | 1 (3%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheezing | 4 (11%) | 3/10 (30%) | 1/6 (17%) | 1/5 (20%) | 0 |
| Chest indrawings/ retractions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crackles | 6 (17%) | 5/10 (50%) | 1/6 (17%) | 1/5 (20%) | 0/7 |
| Vomiting | 16 (46%) | 0/10 | 0/6 | 1/5 (20%) | 0/7 |
| Abdominal pain/ tenderness | 11 (31%) | 1/10 (10%) | 1/6 (17%) | 1/5 (20%) | 0/7 |
| Poor feeding | 14 (40%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other household members with respiratory symptoms | 13 (37%) | 1/6 (17%) | 3/5 (60%) | 0 | 0 |
| Other household members with GI symptoms | 4 (11%) | 0 | 3 (13%) | 1 (4%) | 2 (8%) |
| Vital signs | |||||
| Respiratory rate, breaths/min (SD) | 36 (6.1) | 34.7 (3.4) | 32.8 (3.2) | 34.4 (5.7) | 32.3 (3.7) |
| Oxygen saturations, % (SD) | 98.6 (1.4) | 99.1 (1.2) | 98.5 (1.1) | 99.4 (0.8) | 98.8 (1.4) |
| Outcome | |||||
| Mortality | 1f (3%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ct, cycle threshold; GI, gastrointestinal; NP, nasopharynx; SD, standard deviation
aTwo children withdrew at enrollment, one child withdrew after enrollment, five did not enter follow-up due to early stopping of study, and three were lost to follow-up.
bThree children missed week 4 visit.
cOne child missed week 6 visit.
dTwo children did not complete week 8 visit due to early stopping of study.
eIn follow-up study visits, symptoms were recorded only if these led to health facility referral.
fPatient died after discharge before the week 2 visit.