You’ve probably been reading or hearing about the increasing Cyclospora outbreak currently happening in the United States. You may have wondered what the big deal is? Cyclospora (Cyclospora cayetanensis) is a microscopic, single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis. Over the past several months, public health agencies have been tracking an uptick in cases compared to typical seasonal outbreaks. In the U.S., these outbreaks are typically linked to consuming fresh produce—such as fresh herbs, berries, or leafy greens. These foods may have come into contact with contaminated water or soil during growing or harvesting. The exact cause or source(s) of the current outbreak are not yet well understood.
Unlike typical bacterial food poisoning that makes you sick within hours, Cyclospora takes time to show up. After the parasite is passed in stool, it actually requires 1 to 2 weeks in the environment to mature before it becomes infectious to someone else. Because of this lag time, direct person-to-person spread is extremely rare. Symptoms usually begin about one week after eating contaminated food. This often makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact meal that caused it.
The signature symptom of a Cyclospora infection is frequent, watery diarrhea. Other common symptoms include profound fatigue, severe stomach cramps, bloating, loss of appetite, nausea, and low-grade fever. As public health expert Dr. Katelyn Jetelina highlights in her breakdown on Your Local Epidemiologist, a frustrating feature of Cyclospora is its “relapsing” pattern: symptoms can seem to clear up for a few days, only to return. Additionally, standard clinical stool tests often miss the parasite unless your doctor specifically orders targeted DNA/PCR testing or special laboratory stains.
Because Cyclospora is a parasite rather than a simple bacterium or virus, general over-the-counter anti-diarrheal remedies will not clear the underlying infection. Medical guidelines from the CDC and Cleveland Clinic specify that the primary effective treatment is a specific antibiotic combination: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (commonly known as Bactrim or Septra). Replacing lost electrolytes and staying thoroughly hydrated are equally vital during recovery.
At Watkinsville Urgent Care, we are able to help evaluate acute or lingering gastrointestinal symptoms. We can help determine if more testing is needed. We can administer IV fluids if necessary. As a part of our in-house prescription program we do have the correct antibiotic treatment in house, saving you a trip to the pharmacy if you prefer. Also, our ER experience equips us to immediately spot higher-risk complications- such as severe dehydration or severe abdominal pain. We can help coordinate transfer to the Emergency Department when emergency care is required.
