Text Box: CRIPTOSPORIDUM CAUSING INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION IN CHILDREN Malik.M.A. King Abdulaziz Hospital & Oncology Center, Jeddah, KSA Objective: To highlight the importance of Cryptosporidium infection as a cause of gastroenteritis in children, and that it may be misdiagnosed as surgical intestinal obstruction. Methods: Children presenting with gastroenteritis, who have signs suggestive of intestinal obstruction their stool were studied by Kyinion test for presence of cryptosporidium, after excluding other causative organisms. Results: Sixteen cases of positive Cryptosporidium in stools were identified. Nine of them had clinical features of intestinal obstruction, (bile stained vomitous, abdominal pain, and distension). Seven of them had radiological evidence of intestinal obstruction. (gasteous distension of the bowel and multiple fluid levels). All responded to treatment with Zithromycin for three days. Conclusion: The cocidian parasite Cryptosporidium is an important cause of gastroenteritis in children, that may present with features of intestinal obstruction. High index of suspicion is needed to avoid subjecting these children to unnecessary surgical procedure. 2497