Background:
AIDS and Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) severely impair the immune system
Cryptosporidium
has over the last two decades emerged as a life threatening disease. The study attempts to determine the prevalence of
Cryptosporidium infection in malnourished children with HIV/AIDS.
Method:
Blood and stool samples of 52 HIV-seropositive children and another 52 HIV-sero-negative children aged 0-5 years were collected and screened for HIV and
Cryptosporidium oocysts respectively. The sera were screened by double ELISA and the stool by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen method.
Results:
Out of the 52 HIV-seropositive undernourished, under-five children, none (0%) excreted
Cryptosporidium oocyst in their stools while 2 (3.8%) of the control group excreted the oocyst.
Conclusion:
Cryptosporidium infection seems to be uncommon among undernourished under five children with HIV/AIDS in Jos.
