Bronchial and gastrointestinal cryptosporidiosis in AIDS

Abstract

Mortality and morbidity secondary to cryptosporidiosis reflect host immunocompetency or immunodeficiency. The immunodeficient host may have a protracted, voluminous diarrhea, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte disorders, and malnutrition, while the immunocompetent host will have self-limited disease. As far as we can ascertain, Cryptosporidium pneumonitis has been associated only with cell-mediated immunodeficiency syndromes, such as AIDS. In these cases, erythromycin has been used with symptomatic improvement. No long-term studies on microbiologic cure are available. We suggest that erythromycin probably decreases the protozoan load, which reduces mucosal involvement to a point where symptoms resolve.