Cryptosporidium is a somewhat common disease that is diarrheal in nature and is caused by parasites that are microscopic.
Once a person or animal contracts the infection, the parasite continues to live on in the intestine and passes into the fecal matter.
The parasite itself is protected by an outer shell that enables it to stay alive, even outside of the body, for a long amount of time.
It also makes it quite resistant to disinfectant cleaners that are chlorine based.
Both the parasite and the infection are referred to as "crypto".
Over the course of the last twenty years, cryptosporidium has become one of the top causes of food borne, as well as water borne disease in humans across the United States.
The parasite if often found in recreational water sources, as well as drinking water sources all over the entire United States.
In addition to water, cryptosporidium can also be found in soil, food, or other surfaces that have been contaminated with animal or human fecal matter.
If a person ingests the parasite they can become infected with the disease.
The parasite cannot be spread through contact with blood, but can be spread in the following ways: - Putting things into your mouth accidentally or swallowing something that came into contact with fecal material of an animal or person who was infected with cryptosporidium.
- Swallowing water in a recreational setting (such as in a swimming pool, lake, river, hot tub, pond, spring, stream, fountain, or Jacuzzi) that may be contaminated with fecal matter or sewage from animals or human.
Cryptosporidium can live for several days in swimming pools, even when there is proper chlorination.
- Eating food that not cooked and has been contaminated with the parasite.
All produce such as fruits and vegetables that are going to be consumed raw should be washed thoroughly with safe water that is known to be clean.
- Swallowing cryptosporidium accidentally that was contracted from surfaces (like toys, changing tables, bathroom fixtures, or diaper cans) that may be contaminated with fecal matter from a person infected with the parasite.
Once a person becomes infected with cryptosporidium it takes anywhere from two to ten days for symptoms to appear, with the average length of time being seven days.
For people who are generally healthy with strong immune systems, symptoms usually persist for one to two weeks.
Symptoms may seem to come and go with some days being far worse than others before the infections clears.
The most common symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, stomach pain or cramping, fever, dehydration, and weight loss.
People who are at the highest risk for contracting the infection are children who attend day care programs, especially those who are still in diapers; workers at day care facilities; parents who care for children who are infected; individuals who drink water from shallow wells that are not protected; people who eat food that is not cooked; people who travel internationally; people who drink water from sources that are contaminated; campers, backpackers, and hikers who drink water that is not treated or filtered; and swimmers who swallow water while swimming in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and swimming pools.
If you or someone you know has contracted cryptosporidium after consuming water or food that was tainted with the parasite, and serious health consequences resulted, you should know that you have legal rights and that need to be protected.
You should not hesitate to consult with a personal injury attorney who specializes in this area of the law as soon as possible, following your illness.
In some cases, these infections could have been avoided if simple hygiene practices were in force, especially in the cases regarding food borne contraction.
Believe it or not, the number way people get sick, whether from the common cold, or a more serious parasitic infection such as cryptosporidium is because of not washing hands.
When people prepare food and do not wash their hands first, especially after using the bathroom, it is quite easy to pass serious infections on to those who are going to be eating the food.
Restaurants, food processors, wait staff, dish washers, bus people, and the like owe the public at large a particular duty of care to handle their food in a correct manner, in a safe manner, and in the cleanest manner possible.
When this is not done for any reason, it is important to understand that a form of negligence has occurred.
When negligence happens for any reason, you should not hesitate to take legal action to protect your rights and to recoup damages for the injuries you have sustained.
Those responsible for the harm need to understand that acts such as this should never happen, and carelessness or recklessness is not acceptable in any situation.
A personal injury attorney is your best line of defense when bringing forth a legal claim that involves illness such as a cryptosporidium infection.
These legal professionals are quite skilled in this area of the law, and will manage every aspect of your case from start to finish.
He or she will deal directly with the restaurant, food preparer, or other party or parties involved in an effort to reach a favorable outcome that is both fair and just.
Since cases such as these tend to hinge on many small details, it is not recommended that you attempt to file on your own, without the assistance of an attorney.
Missing just one detail or one filing deadline can completely ruin your chances of winning your case.
Because most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about how to fund your claim up front, and in most situations, you pay nothing until the time your case settles.
This means that you have nothing to lose, but a great deal to gain.
Do not risk becoming a victim twice; consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible and start the process of recovering damages for a variety of issues from medical expenses to loss of income.
Once a person or animal contracts the infection, the parasite continues to live on in the intestine and passes into the fecal matter.
The parasite itself is protected by an outer shell that enables it to stay alive, even outside of the body, for a long amount of time.
It also makes it quite resistant to disinfectant cleaners that are chlorine based.
Both the parasite and the infection are referred to as "crypto".
Over the course of the last twenty years, cryptosporidium has become one of the top causes of food borne, as well as water borne disease in humans across the United States.
The parasite if often found in recreational water sources, as well as drinking water sources all over the entire United States.
In addition to water, cryptosporidium can also be found in soil, food, or other surfaces that have been contaminated with animal or human fecal matter.
If a person ingests the parasite they can become infected with the disease.
The parasite cannot be spread through contact with blood, but can be spread in the following ways: - Putting things into your mouth accidentally or swallowing something that came into contact with fecal material of an animal or person who was infected with cryptosporidium.
- Swallowing water in a recreational setting (such as in a swimming pool, lake, river, hot tub, pond, spring, stream, fountain, or Jacuzzi) that may be contaminated with fecal matter or sewage from animals or human.
Cryptosporidium can live for several days in swimming pools, even when there is proper chlorination.
- Eating food that not cooked and has been contaminated with the parasite.
All produce such as fruits and vegetables that are going to be consumed raw should be washed thoroughly with safe water that is known to be clean.
- Swallowing cryptosporidium accidentally that was contracted from surfaces (like toys, changing tables, bathroom fixtures, or diaper cans) that may be contaminated with fecal matter from a person infected with the parasite.
Once a person becomes infected with cryptosporidium it takes anywhere from two to ten days for symptoms to appear, with the average length of time being seven days.
For people who are generally healthy with strong immune systems, symptoms usually persist for one to two weeks.
Symptoms may seem to come and go with some days being far worse than others before the infections clears.
The most common symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, stomach pain or cramping, fever, dehydration, and weight loss.
People who are at the highest risk for contracting the infection are children who attend day care programs, especially those who are still in diapers; workers at day care facilities; parents who care for children who are infected; individuals who drink water from shallow wells that are not protected; people who eat food that is not cooked; people who travel internationally; people who drink water from sources that are contaminated; campers, backpackers, and hikers who drink water that is not treated or filtered; and swimmers who swallow water while swimming in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and swimming pools.
If you or someone you know has contracted cryptosporidium after consuming water or food that was tainted with the parasite, and serious health consequences resulted, you should know that you have legal rights and that need to be protected.
You should not hesitate to consult with a personal injury attorney who specializes in this area of the law as soon as possible, following your illness.
In some cases, these infections could have been avoided if simple hygiene practices were in force, especially in the cases regarding food borne contraction.
Believe it or not, the number way people get sick, whether from the common cold, or a more serious parasitic infection such as cryptosporidium is because of not washing hands.
When people prepare food and do not wash their hands first, especially after using the bathroom, it is quite easy to pass serious infections on to those who are going to be eating the food.
Restaurants, food processors, wait staff, dish washers, bus people, and the like owe the public at large a particular duty of care to handle their food in a correct manner, in a safe manner, and in the cleanest manner possible.
When this is not done for any reason, it is important to understand that a form of negligence has occurred.
When negligence happens for any reason, you should not hesitate to take legal action to protect your rights and to recoup damages for the injuries you have sustained.
Those responsible for the harm need to understand that acts such as this should never happen, and carelessness or recklessness is not acceptable in any situation.
A personal injury attorney is your best line of defense when bringing forth a legal claim that involves illness such as a cryptosporidium infection.
These legal professionals are quite skilled in this area of the law, and will manage every aspect of your case from start to finish.
He or she will deal directly with the restaurant, food preparer, or other party or parties involved in an effort to reach a favorable outcome that is both fair and just.
Since cases such as these tend to hinge on many small details, it is not recommended that you attempt to file on your own, without the assistance of an attorney.
Missing just one detail or one filing deadline can completely ruin your chances of winning your case.
Because most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about how to fund your claim up front, and in most situations, you pay nothing until the time your case settles.
This means that you have nothing to lose, but a great deal to gain.
Do not risk becoming a victim twice; consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible and start the process of recovering damages for a variety of issues from medical expenses to loss of income.
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