Frequent trips to the bathroom, stomach cramps that won't let up and diarrhea that comes on so suddenly it's been described as “explosive.” If these are symptoms you’ve experienced in the last few days, a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis could be behind it.
In the warm months of summer as fresh produce season hits its peak, so does Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis.
Cyclospora isn't a newly discovered parasite, and while it is uncommon in the United States, it isn't going away. But, the positive side is that cyclosporiasis is highly preventable, and the habits that protect you don't need special equipment or a lot of extra time.
Learn what to do if you think you have cyclosporiasis, as well as cyclosporiasis symptoms, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated.
Cyclospora isn’t a virus or bacteria, rather, it’s a tiny parasite that infects your intestines, leading to a stomach illness called cyclosporiasis. You contract it by eating food or drinking water that's been contaminated with infected feces, often with no visible or detectable sign that anything is wrong.
What makes the Cyclospora parasite particularly stubborn is how it behaves once it has entered your body. It multiplies in the intestines, and the symptoms of cyclosporiasis often follow a relapsing pattern, improving, then flaring back up. This is why the illness can last for weeks instead of clearing in a few days like more common gastrointestinal illnesses such as rotavirus or norovirus.
The Cyclospora parasite spreads through the fecal-oral route, meaning it's passed through contaminated food or water, not through the air or casual contact.
When Cyclospora leaves the body through stool, it isn't immediately capable of infecting anyone else. It needs time, typically days to weeks, in the outside environment before it becomes infectious and turns into cyclosporiasis. This is a key difference from illnesses like a cold or the flu, which can be spread person-to-person almost immediately.
Cyclospora's dependence on this outside incubation period is a big part of why it's so closely tied to agriculture. The contaminated water used for irrigation of crops or processing produce before it’s shipped out can transfer the parasite during growing, harvesting or packing, long before that produce ever reaches a store shelf or your dinner table.
Outside of produce contamination, international travel to tropical or subtropical regions is the other way that people can be exposed to the parasite, since contaminated food and water are more common in these areas.
Because Cyclospora spreads primarily through contaminated food, most outbreaks have been linked to fresh, raw produce. Some of the most common food sources include:
The most common symptom of cyclosporiasis is watery diarrhea, which may be frequent and is sometimes described as “explosive.” For some people, this digestive upset can repeatedly come and go, seeming to get better and then returning again.
Other cyclosporiasis symptoms may include:
Symptoms typically show up approximately a week after you eat or drink something contaminated with Cyclospora cayetanensis. You may start to feel better only to have symptoms return a few days later. Without proper treatment, you can feel sick for several days to weeks or even longer.
Cyclosporiasis is diagnosed through a stool test, but it's not part of routine stool testing, so your doctor will need to specifically request testing for Cyclospora if they suspect it. The Cyclospora parasite can be challenging to detect, so more than one sample may be needed to confirm a cyclosporiasis diagnosis.
If you suspect you’ve become ill from the Cyclospora parasite, reach out to your healthcare provider for further guidance if:
If you test positive for cyclosporiasis, your healthcare provider can prescribe a course of antibiotics, typically a sulfa-based medication, which can help reduce your symptoms and speed up recovery.
In most cases, though, people with healthy immune systems can manage symptoms at home and recover from the illness without treatment. Most people recover within about a week, but it's important to stay hydrated while your body heals. Drink plenty of fluids to replace what you've lost, and consider beverages that can help restore electrolytes if you're experiencing diarrhea.
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or suspect a young child is infected, talk to your healthcare provider (or pediatrician) before starting any treatment for cyclosporiasis.
Given that Cyclospora's main pathway into the body is by what you eat and drink, preventing cyclosporiasis comes down to basic food safety and hygiene measures and awareness of your environment if traveling to certain regions of the world.
Think you may have cyclosporiasis and still not feeling better after a few days? Get care on your schedule with virtual and same-day options.
David Winter, MD, is an internal medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Signature Medicine – Tom Landry.
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