What are the indications for referral to a specialist for a patient with persistent symptoms of Cryptosporidiosis?

Indications for referral to a specialist for a patient with persistent symptoms of Cryptosporidiosis include:

• Persistent diarrhoea lasting beyond 7 days, especially if symptoms do not improve or worsen, warranting stool microbiological investigations and specialist assessment ².
• Presence of blood and/or mucus in stool, which may indicate a more serious or alternative diagnosis requiring specialist input ².
• Immunocompromised status of the patient, as these patients are at higher risk of severe or prolonged infection and need specialist management ².
• Systemic symptoms such as fever, appearing unwell, or other signs suggesting complications or alternative diagnoses should prompt referral ².
• Failure to respond to initial management or uncertainty about diagnosis after initial investigations should lead to specialist referral ².

In summary, referral to a specialist (such as an infectious disease specialist or gastroenterologist) is indicated when Cryptosporidiosis symptoms are persistent, complicated, or atypical, or when the patient is immunocompromised ².