Diagnosis cyclosporiasis

As health officials work to determine the source of a parasite causing cases of explosive diarrhea across the country, infectious disease experts are urging the public to take precautions around fresh produce.

Cyclospora – the parasite responsible for causing the intestinal disease cyclosporiasis – is found in fruits, vegetables and water contaminated with fecal material.

“It’s a microscopic parasite, which means you can’t see it, that gets caught in the bumps of some produce,” said Shalika Katugaha, MD, system director of Infectious Diseases for Baptist Health. “That’s why you hear raspberries are more associated with it than something like blueberries, because blueberries are round and smooth.”

Common sources of cyclospora

Although the cause of the current outbreak is unknown, cyclospora has been linked to the following fruits and vegetables:

• Bagged lettuce
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Raspberries
• Snap peas

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis

One of the factors complicating the search for the source is the long lag time between consuming the produce and developing symptoms. Typically, people will start feeling ill between two days and two weeks later, making it difficult to pinpoint the culprit.

Symptoms include:

• Explosive, watery diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Cramping
• Gas and/or bloating
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Fever

“Given the current outbreak, if you have diarrhea for over 48 hours, you should let your primary care doctor know,” said Dr. Katugaha. “Cyclospora doesn’t show up on a standard stool test, so they may have to order a special lab test to confirm it.”

Fortunately, cyclosporiasis can be treated with antibiotics. Most people with healthy immune systems will recover on their own, but symptoms can last weeks or even months. Young children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised are at higher risk for serious illness.

“The biggest risk for most people is dehydration because of how much fluid you’re losing from the diarrhea,” said Dr. Katugaha.

Parasite prevention

The good news? Cyclospora needs to be in the environment (outside the body) for one to two weeks to become infectious, so it doesn’t spread from person to person.

More good news? You don’t have to ditch all your fruits and vegetables, which are important for maintaining a balanced diet.

To minimize your chances of getting cyclosporiasis, Dr. Katugaha recommended:

• Cooking vegetables, which will kill the parasite.
• Washing produce with a brush under running water, which can help get the parasite out of bumps and grooves.
• Thoroughly washing the peels or rinds of fruits before cutting to them to reduce the risk of transferring cyclospora to the fruit’s flesh.

“If you start having watery diarrhea and you’re at the point of questioning how you should manage it at home, it’s time to contact your doctor,” Dr. Katugaha said.

Your primary care doctor can order the test for cyclospora and prescribe medications to treat the parasite and manage the symptoms. Looking for a new provider? Use the Find a Doctor tool or schedule an appointment online.

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention