Description of the characteristics of patients with diseases associated with immunosuppression and Cryptosporidium spp. infection seen at a referral children’s hospital in Argentina, 2018–2023

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp. is a diarrhea-causing protozoan. Immunocompromised patients may develop severe and persistent clinical forms.Here we describe the characteristics of patients with an underlying disease associated with immunosuppression (DAI) and Cryptosporidium spp. infection seen at a referral children's hospital in Argentina between 2018 and 2023. Demographic data, DAI, diarrhea characteristics, and co-infections were analyzed. A total of 30 patients with DAI and cryptosporidiosis were included. Most of them had undergone a solid organ transplant, had a hematologic neoplasm, or primary immunodeficiency. Persistent diarrhea was observed in 18 patients at the time of diagnosis. Co-infections were recorded in 6 patients. Cryptosporidiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute or persistent diarrhea in children with different types of DAI, such as solid organ transplant, hematologic neoplasms, and primary immunodeficiencies.