Cyclospora Infection (Cyclosporiasis)
Cyclosporiasis is a diarrheal illness caused most commonly by a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. You can become infected with Cyclospora by drinking water or eating food that is contaminated with the parasite.
Prior outbreaks in North America have been traced to imported fresh produce such as raspberries, leafy greens, onions, basil, and cilantro. Cyclosporiasis is not spread directly from one person to another.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear approximately one week after exposure, but can take as little as two days or up to two weeks to appear. Symptoms include:
- Watery diarrhea and frequent bowel movements
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Bloating, increased gas, and stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tiredness
- Muscle aches
- Low-grade fever
Symptoms may subside and then return. If untreated, the illness may last a few days to a month or even longer. Some people who are infected do not develop any symptoms.
Prevention
Cyclospora infections can be prevented by avoiding water or food that may be contaminated with stool.
- Practice good hand hygiene: Wash your hands with soap and warm water before handling food, or after using the toilet or changing diapers.
- Avoid food that may be contaminated: Thoroughly wash uncooked fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid water that may be contaminated: Do not drink water directly from streams, lakes, springs, or swimming pools. If you must drink from these sources, make sure to boil water for at least one minute or to use a filter with a pore size of one micron or smaller.
- Take extra care when traveling: When traveling to countries with poor water treatment or food sanitation, avoid raw fruits and vegetables, unboiled tap water, ice, and food from street vendors.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Health care providers can diagnose cyclosporiasis by testing a sample of your stool.
Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover without treatment, but treatment can reduce the length of time they are sick. The recommended medicine for treatment is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This can be prescribed by a health care provider.
People with cyclosporiasis should rest and drink plenty of fluids. People should speak to their health care providers before taking over-the-counter medicines that reduce diarrhea.