Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Is it true that someone can rid themselves of Cryptosporidium without treatment? If so, is there any medical explanation for this? If a test has shown evidence of cryptosporidium, are there further tests one should take, and if there are, could you please tell me what these tests should be, and what is being looked for in such tests?
Trevor Hawkins, M. D.
Associate Clinical Professor, Dept. Family Practice, University New Mexico
Medical Director, Southwest CARE Center, Santa Fe, NM
Cryptosporidia in people with a competent immune system is usually a mild to moderate diarrheal illness that lasts about 7-14 days and resolves. It resolves in the same way most infections do because of the body's immune response which controls the invading organism and restores normal function to the affected tissue, in this case the gut.
In people with immunedeficiency it can become a life threatening disease and is often difficult to treat.
If the symptoms have resolved there is no benefit to retesting.
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