What You Need to Know About Cyclospora

In this edition of Dr. Rick Informs, Dr. Rick addresses a topic that has generated a large number of questions: cyclospora, an illness that has been widely covered in the media as cases continue to rise.

According to reports, 7,600 people have contracted cyclospora, and cases have been identified in 34 states. Some of the states most affected include Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

However, the illness is not limited to those areas. Dr. Rick notes that cases are expected across the country, so it is worth knowing what to look out for.

People who eat contaminated produce can get cyclospora.

The contamination can come from water or from the produce itself, and the source of contamination is feces.

Symptoms generally begin after eating contaminated produce such as:

• Lettuce
• Cilantro
• Bagged mixed lettuces
• Basil
• Raspberries
• Snow peas

After eating contaminated produce, you may not feel sick right away.

Typically, about a week later, symptoms begin to develop. These can include:

• Cramping
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Dehydration

Dehydration is the symptom to take most seriously. Staying on top of hydration and seeking care early is the best way to avoid complications.

Cyclospora is a parasite, which is one of the reasons it behaves differently from typical food poisoning, and why it needs to be treated.

If you develop cyclospora, see your doctor, who can prescribe the appropriate medication. This would typically be an antibiotic such as Bactrim or Septra.

In some instances, if you get cyclospora and don’t get it treated, you may start to feel better and then experience a relapse. Getting treated is what breaks that cycle.

One of the most common questions Dr. Rick has received is about the difference between cyclospora and what many people would consider typical food poisoning.

OWith food poisoning, symptoms usually appear very quickly after eating contaminated food. You may come home from a meal feeling unwell, develop diarrhea or vomiting, and become sick almost immediately.

The reassuring news about ordinary food poisoning is that it usually passes on its own. Most people start to feel better within two or three days with rest, fluids, electrolytes, and simple foods. Antibiotics are not usually needed.

Cyclospora is different.

Symptoms typically do not appear until about a week after exposure. Because of this delay, many people do not immediately connect their illness to something they ate days earlier.

Another key difference is the duration of the illness.

While food poisoning often improves within a few days, untreated cyclospora can last for weeks or even months.

You may begin to feel better, only for symptoms to return. This cycle of improvement followed by recurring illness can continue without proper treatment, which is why getting diagnosed and treated matters so much.

If you are sick and remain sick, it is important to get evaluated.

Testing may include a stool culture, a gastrointestinal panel, or testing for ova and parasites. Without the right testing, a standard stool culture can come back negative and the cause of your illness may go unidentified, delaying treatment.

Dr. Rick offers a simple way to think about it: consider what you ate. If your illness followed fresh produce such as lettuce, bagged salad, herbs, or berries, cyclospora is a real possibility and worth raising with your doctor. If it followed a cooked restaurant meal and resolved within a couple of days, it was more likely ordinary food poisoning.

Contact your doctor if you are experiencing:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Ongoing dehydration

Unlike many cases of food poisoning that improve with rest, fluids, and electrolytes, cyclospora generally will not resolve without treatment.

Most people who seek treatment do well. However, dehydration can become more serious if you are:

• Over 65 years old
• Immunocompromised
• Already dehydrated

If you fall into one of these groups, don’t wait. Early treatment helps avoid hospitalization and more serious complications.

Cyclospora is likely to be around for a while, so be mindful with your produce.

Dr. Rick’s guidance is straightforward: don’t wait it out. If you develop diarrhea, fever, fatigue, or signs of dehydration, see your doctor and get the treatment you need. If symptoms continue or keep returning, make sure you receive the appropriate testing and diagnosis.

Stay Healthy, Stay Active