Another Incurable Result of Sodomy: Cryptosporidium

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Cryptosporidium

GMHC'S Nutrition & Wellness Program

(Gay Men's Health Crisis)

WHAT IS CRYPTOSPORIDIUM?

Cryptosporidium, or "crypto" for short, is a single-celled parasite,
too small to be seen with the naked eye. It is found in human and
animal feces. People living with HIV, especially those with T cell
counts below 200, should be especially careful to avoid crypto.

HOW IS CRYPTO SPREAD?

Cryptosporidium is transmitted through oral-fecal contact. For example,
crypto can be spread by:

* eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with infected
feces (including water in swimming pools)
* touching your mouth without washing your hands after handling feces
or objects contaminated with feces
* by oral-anal contact (rimming)

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CRYPTO?

Cryptosporidium causes a flu-like illness. The major symptoms start
between 2 to 10 days after infection and may include: watery, chronic
diarrhea and stomach cramps. These symptoms might get worse after you
eat. Headaches, vomiting, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, weight
loss, and dehydration may also occur. If you have a weakened immune
system (especially if you have a T-cell count lower than 200) the
symptoms may be worse and last longer.

HOW IS A CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION DIAGNOSED?

A stool sample is taken by your doctor for examination under a
microscope. Unless there are enough organisms in the stool to be
detected, the test may not be completely accurate.

HOW IS A CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION TREATED?

* There is no effective cure for crypto.
* Your doctor might give you medication (such as Humatin and
Azithryomycin) to help with the symptoms, but neither drug is
effective for everyone.
* Anti-diarrheal drugs may be temporarily helpful but ask your doctor
before starting them.
* If you have AIDS, antiretroviral therapy may help improve your immune
system and may help decrease the symptoms of crypto.
* While you're having diarrhea it's important to stay hydrated and eat
a nutritious diet.

HOW CAN I REDUCE MY RISK OF GETTING CRYPTOSPORIDIUM?

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using the
bathroom, before eating and preparing foods, after changing diapers,
touching animals, or after gardening.

Boil tap water for at least 1 minute to kill cryptosporidium;
chlorination of drinking water alone does not kill the organism. Once
the boiled water has cooled, pour it into clean, dry, containers. Lemon
or other flavorings may be added to improve the taste. Dishes,
silverware, pots and pans may be washed with tap water as long as they
are dry before they are used. Distilled water is also safe to use
instead of boiling tap water.

Use a personal water filter that is certified for "cyst removal." The
package should say that the filter is certified by NSF International.
The package may also say it uses a "standard #53" filter, which is able
to remove crypto. The Pur Ultimate and Pur Plus brands are currently
certified to removed crypto. Brita filters DO NOT remove
cryptosporidium but may be used following proper filtration or boiling
to improve taste.

Replace your filters according to schedule. Follow the directions
provided when you purchase your filter to ensure that you filter is
working at full capacity.

You can call NSF toll free at (877) 867-3435 if you have any questions
about purchasing a water filter. NSF is a not for profit organization
that works on issues of water safety.

If you choose bottled water, look for water that is filtered to 1
micron or less. Safe choices of bottled water include: Naya, Poland
Spring, Fiji, SPA, Spring Valley, and Saratoga, among others. You can
call the Nutrition and Wellness Program at GMHC if you have any
questions.

Use only boiled, distilled or properly filtered water to make ice
cubes, brush your teeth, and dilute fruit juices from concentrate. At
restaurants beware of reconstituted fruit juices, soda (from
fountains), and ice cubes made with tap water. Commercially bottled
soft drinks/seltzer and pasteurized juices such as Tropicana are
safest.

Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables to remove debris, then rinse with
boiled (and cooled), distilled, or properly filtered water before
eating raw.

Avoid consuming unpasteurized milk products and unpasteurized apple
cider.

Avoid fecal exposure during sex. If you have oral/anal contact
(rimming), wash thoroughly before and after with soap and water and use
a latex barrier.

Try not to swallow water while swimming in recreational pools. You can
also protect others by avoiding swimming if you are having diarrhea.

The GMHC kitchen is equipped with an EverPure water filtration system.
All fresh fruits and vegetables served are washed in filtered water. In
addition, ice cubes and the water used to make coffee comes from this
source.

IS NEW YORK CITY DRINKING WATER SAFE?

Low levels of crypto have been found in NYC drinking water. However, it
is not clear whether healthy or immunocompromised people will get ill
from these low levels. If you want to be on the safe side, follow the
recommendations listed above.


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