Can you get crypotsporidium from working at a hog barn/factory?

Question

While working at the hog barn I was pressure washing out pens and had it spray back in my face...while not wearing a mask and now I have sever diarhea and awful stomach cramps going on 3 days. Could this be cryptosporidium? Excuse my poor spelling.

Answer 1

You can get more things that Cryptosporidium from doing what you describe in your question. More commonly you could get an enteropathic E. coli infection, Salmonella infection (Typhoid fever is caused by a specific strain of salmonella, Influenza, Giardia, Ascaris are among the more commonly reported ones. Whether or not you have fever along with your symptoms would be useful in including or excluding Salmonella from your list but the others are still possible.

Answer 2

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites that live in the intestine and pass in BMs. It can be found anywhere that has been in contact with the feces of an infected person or animal.

While diarrhea is the most common symptom, other symptoms include:
dehydration
weight loss
stomach cramps
fever
nausea and/or vomiting
These symptoms appear 2 to 10 days after exposure.

While you might feel better some days, the symptoms will persist for up to 2 weeks. Yes, you may have it but to find out for sure, see your doctor to be tested. The doctor can then treat you. In the meantime, drink plenty of fluids and use an anti-diarrheal medication...after clearing it with your doctor.

You should get diagnosed to find out for sure because crypto is highly contagious! To prevent spreading it:
wash you hands after using the bathroom
avoid pools, spas, lakes, ponds, hot tubs, the ocean, etc.
avoid the anus during oral sex and no anal sex
Also, your BMs can still pass on the disease for a few weeks after your are well so be sure to be very careful for several weeks after you recuperate.