Microsporidiosis natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]

If left untreated, immunocompetent patients resolve the disease completely within 2 weeks while immunocompromised patients might develop chronic diarrhea. Common complications of microsporidiosis include weight loss, dehydration, and acalculous cholecystitis. Prognosis is generally excellent in immunocompetent patients while immunocompromised patients are more vulnerable to developing chronic disease and complications.

If left untreated, microsporidiosis is self-resolving with complete recovery within 14 days in immunocompetent patients. While in immunocompromised patients, the disease is more prolonged and patients are more vulnerable to complications such as malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.^[1]

Complications might arise in immunocompromised patients due to chronic diarrhea:^[2][1]

• Dehydration
• Weight loss
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Acalculous cholecystitis
• Systemic spread to the brain, respiratory tract, urinary tract, etc.

• The prognosis is excellent among immunocompetent patients and the disease is self-limited within 2 weeks.
• In immunocompromised patients, the prognosis is less favorable with more vulnerability to develop systemic spread of the disease and complications.
• Mortality due to microsporidiosis is mostly associated with systemic disease and in AIDS patients not receiving HAART.

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