Background: Cryptosporidiosis is an intestinal parasitosis, caused by the Cryptosporidium parvum protozoa, was described, by the first time, in 1976. Since then, there already had several reports, including in Brazil. In general, it appears with a severe episode of watery diarrhea, prolonged abdomen pain, nausea and vomit, affecting immunocompromised, nursery children and people contacting contaminated water. The diagnosis can be done with a parasitological stool test with specific stain, since the protozoa search is required. Objective: The goal of this work was to test the knowledge degree on the disease in a Porto Alegre physician's sample. In two university hospitals of Porto Alegre, the Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia (ISCMPA) and St'Lucas Hospital of Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio Grande do Sul (HSLPUC-RS), there are 411 physicians that work on those hospitals, 173 of ISCMPA and 238 HSLPUC-RS. From 411 those, was applied an interview in 92 physicians of different specialities, from July 1999 to August 2000. Ninety one specialist physicians were interviewed: 41 in internal medicine, 11 in gastroenterology, 6 in infections parasitic diseases, 18 in pediatrics, 8 in community medicine and 7 in gynecology and obstetrics. The physicians were randomic select and stratific sample with the number for specialities physicians, since the number was diferent significatly. As an instrument was used a questinare (annex) with single and doble questions, it was applied for author (ESB) followed defined rules. The die was cast in the Microsoft Excel®97 for statistics annalysis. Results: The most remembered risk group was the immunocompromised one (88/91). However, only 33/91 consider the children in nursey as a risk group. The most remembered symptom was the prolonged watery diarrhea (70/91), followed by abdominal pain (59/91) and nausea and vomiting (19/91). Fifty three interviewed said that they would request some test if the disease were suspected. However, 33/91 they believe that a common parasitological stool test can diagnose the disease. Among 91 of the interviewed, only 37 reported that there is not a treatment for the disease and 83 admitted that they need more information about the disease. It was verified that cryptosporidiosis is a disease not well-known by the physicians, and, togheter there is the risk of its prevalence being underestimated in our environment.
Cryptosporidiosis; Immunodeficiency; Parasitological stool test