Cryptosporidium parvum diarrhea in an infant with short bowel syndrome.

Cryptosporidium parvum is an underdiagnosed cause of diarrhea in children. The case of a 1-year-old girl with short bowel syndrome presenting with severe dehydrating diarrhea with a protozoon named C parvum is reported. Although the resection of the small bowel in this patient seemed to cause this severe infection with C parvum, more cases are needed to include the resection of the small bowel as a risk factor for Cryptosporidium infection and/or for a more severe form of diarrhea. Awareness of this infection among clinicians will help to diagnose this infection since special acid fast staining is made on special request.