There are some parasites that spread in more ways then ingestion of contaminated food and water. If you swim on a regular basis, you might have contracted Cryptosporidium, even if you swim in chlorinated pools.

Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan protozoans that causes the disease cryptosporidiosis. Infection of Cryptosporidium usually comes from ingestion of contaminated food or water.¹ Cryptosporidium infection mainly occurs from contact with improperly treated water; the protozoan is highly resistant to chlorine, but may succumb to it over long periods or when combined with ozone.² Swimmers that swim in improperly treated swimming pools or other contaminated water may be susceptible to getting this parasite.³ Cryptosporidium appears to be susceptible to UV radiation filtration exposure, which when used properly might eliminate the parasite. ⁴

Cryptosporidiosis is a self-limiting condition in healthy people. Symptoms of a self-limiting infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and a low-grade fever. Self-limiting infections usually last a week but can rarely last up to a month. Diagnostic tests performed to determine an infection include detection of antibodies and microscoped stool sample testing.⁵

In people with compromised immune systems, cryptosporidiosis can become an emergency. The Cryptosporidium can spread beyond the intestines and infect the lungs, ears, stomach, biliary tract, and pancreas. Unrelenting severe diarrhea and dehydration are the main cause of death in people infected with Cryptosporidium that have poorly functioning immune systems. If you have a compromised immune system and your infection is severe, use of medication may be needed to treat the parasite.⁶ I recommend you ask your doctor about using only Nitazoxanide if possible. ⁷ I would add black walnut, diatomaceous Earth, and wormwood to help eliminate the parasite.

Self-limiting Cryptosporidiosis Protocol

• Hula Clark’s black walnut tincture – follow the general supplement bottle recommendations
• Herb Pharm Wormwood – follow the general supplement bottle recommendations
• Source Naturals Bioperine – take ten mg, twice daily, four hours away from any supplements or medications.
• Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth – follow diatomaceous Earth protocol above
• Sodium ascorbate – take 4,000 mg, twice daily
• Upgraded™ Activated Charcoal – follow the general supplement bottle recommendations
• Clean Chlorella – follow the general supplement bottle recommendations
• Jarrow Formulas lactoferrin – follow supplement bottle recommendations (can increase up to two grams daily if needed)
• Interphase Plus – follow general supplement recommendations.

See more from this series:

• Organisms Inside You – Part 1: Blastocystis hominis
• Organisms Inside You Part 2: Cryptosporidium
• Organisms Inside You – Part 3: Entamoeba histolytica
1. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/ ↩
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC184422/ ↩
3. http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/illnesses/cryptosporidium.html ↩
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12406729 ↩
5. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious_diseases/intestinal_protozoa/cryptosporidiosis.html ↩
6. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious_diseases/intestinal_protozoa/cryptosporidiosis.html ↩
7. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/health_professionals/tx.html ↩