Prevalence of cryptosporidium infection among undernourished children in Jos, Central Nigeria.

: This prospective study aimed at determining the prevalence data of Cryptosporidium infection in undernourished children, its seasonality and its relative frequency in diarrhoeic stool in Jos, Central Nigeria. One hundred and seventy each of undernourished and well nourished children aged 0-5 years were recruited into the study. Stool samples and clinical data were obtained using questionnaires. Results were analysed using Chi-square test. The prevalence of the infection was found to be 4.8% and all infections occurred in diarrhoeic stool. No infection with this pathogen was recorded in the well-nourished group. There was a defined seasonality of the infection. The high prevalence suggests the importance of introducing routine screening of this group of patients for cryptosporidium infection to facilitate their management.