[Epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of human Cryptosporidiosis in Chile].

Cryptosporidium sp. infections have been reported in different Chilean localities, both in healthy individuals and immunocompromised patients. Among the first, hospitalized and ambulatory children less than 3 years old are the age group more affected reaching frequencies from 3.1 up to 19.3%. In pre-school children, school children and adults the prevalence rates have been 1.1, 0.2 and 0.3% respectively. According to the epidemiological studies carried out, the routine laboratory diagnosis of this parasitosis should be emphasized in the parasitological stool examinations in children under 3 years of age, and selectively in the older ones.