Boy, 4, diagnosed with crypto

By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com

Huguley Memorial Medical Center doctors diagnosed a 4-year-old Keene boy with cryptosporidiosis Tuesday, his mother said.

The boy had been swimming at Splash Station in Cleburne, said Deborah Cavazos, mother of Kayleb Cavazos. Officials closed Splash Station last weekend to hyperchlorinate the water after a lifeguard also contacted the disease.

Cleburne Health Official Teresa Richardson said she contacted the State Health Department after receiving word of Kayleb’s condition.

“We’ve investigated a number cases in the last several weeks in North Texas,” said Emily Palmer, spokeswoman for the Texas Health Department. “But we don’t confirm or comment on individual cases.”

Officials closed Splash Station on July 26 after a lifeguard tested positive for the cryptosporidium parasite. They hyperchlorinated the pools and reopened at 1 p.m. the next day, Richardson said.

Cyptosporidiousis, also known as crypto, is a diarreheal disease caused by microscopic parasites, according the Centers for Disease Control’s Web site. Although the disease can be transmitted in several ways, transmission through water — drinking or recreational use such as a swimming pool — is one of the most common methods of transmission.

It remains unclear where the lifeguard contacted the disease, said Max Robertson, Cleburne parks and recreation director. Officials closed and treated the pool as a precaution.

Kayleb is still sick, Cavazos said Thursday. Initially, she thought her son had a stomach flu.

“He started getting sick on [July 25], and it was confirmed Tuesday,” Cavazos said. “What we didn’t realize was that it can lay dormant for 10 days, and it can come and go. He would be fine, then get sick again.

“What parents need to know is that kids that age can dehydrate fast. He was really dehydrated Tuesday. No signs, just sudden. He was having diarrhea, not hungry.”

Kayleb visited Splash Station on July 15, Richardson said, 11 days before the pool was closed and hyperchlorinated.

Texas Department of State Health Services officials are still investigating where Kayleb may have contacted the disease, Richardson said.

“Five of the lifeguards tested all came back negative,” she said. “We’ve had no further reports connected to the pool since closing last weekend. Of course, someone infected could go swimming today and start the whole thing over.”

City warnings to residents may have been insufficient, Cavazos said.

She said she learned from the Centers For Disease Control Web site chlorine does not kill the crypto parasite, and the disease can remain in a person up to a month, not two weeks, after symptoms persist.

“The city needs to update information from staying out of public pools from 14 to 30 days after they stop having symptoms,” Cavazos said. “I want them to take a few more precautions so more kids don’t end up getting sick.”

Michelle Hlavsa, an epidemiologist with the Centers For Disease Control, confirmed that the crypto parasite is resistant to normal chlorine disinfection.

Hyperchlorination, however, contains 20 parts per million as opposed to normal chlorination, which contains one part per million. Water hyperchlorinated for at least 13 hours before being brought back to normal chlorine levels will kill crypto parasites, Hlavsa said.

The suggestion that those diagnosed with crypto refrain from swimming for two weeks after their symptoms pass is also sound, Hlavsa said.

“Studies have shown that some people have continued to shed for up to 51 days,” Hlavsa said. “That’s so infrequent, though, and usually a very small possibility. Two weeks is usually sufficient.”

Splash Station now requires visitors to read a statement that prohibits them from using the pools if they have diarrhea, vomiting or fever symptoms.

“The main goal is to keep the pool where we need to be safety wise,” Richardson said.