When an outbreak such as that in Milwaukee occurs, it usually means that there has been a breakdown in a filtration plant. In Milwaukee a problem occurred with the filtration process in one of two water treatment plants. Most of the cases of cryptosporidiosis occurred in the area getting water from this plant. Since the Milwaukee outbreak, public health officials throughout the United States developed new guidelines to protect the public from future outbreaks of waterborne infections. Symptoms you are likely to notice The major symptoms of crypto-sporidiosis are episodes of frequent, watery diarrhea accompanied by bad abdominal cramps.
Some people also experience fatigue , fever , nausea , and vomiting .
The symptoms usually start about a week after infection occurs. Symptomatic periods usually last about two weeks in people with healthy immune systems. Some infected people have no symptoms at all. Symptoms your physician may observe If a doctor suspects cryptosporidiosis, he or she will do a fecal smear on a stool sample. Presence of oocysts will confirm the diagnosis.