• The Cyclospora parasite causes cyclosporiasis when humans ingest contaminated water or food containing Cyclospora sporulated oocysts.
• Symptoms and signs of Cyclospora infections include watery diarrhea, gas, cramping, bloating, nausea, weight loss, appetite loss, and fatigue.
• Medical care should be sought if symptoms last a week or more, if a person has traveled through an endemic area, or if they become dehydrated and weak.
• Diagnosis of Cyclospora infections require special laboratories and lab tests to detect the parasites.
• The only CDC-recommended treatment is the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Sulfatrim).
• Self-care at home consists of symptomatic treatment and completing oral antibiotic therapy.
• Follow-up is not usually required if treatment is effective, but follow-up for certain individuals is recommended.
• The prognoses of most treated Cyclospora infections is good to excellent; the prognoses of untreated infections range from good to a few poor outcomes.
• Complications of Cyclospora infections may include a relapsing illness, malabsorption, cholecystitis, Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis), dehydration, and electrolyte problems in some patients.
• There is no vaccine to prevent Cyclospora infections; the CDC recommends avoiding water and foods contaminated with human feces and adherence to FDA guidelines for food growers and food packagers.

  Source: http://www.emedicinehealth.com

Medical Author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Medical Editor: Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Source: http://www.emedicinehealth.com

Medical Author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD Medical Editor: Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Source: http://www.emedicinehealth.com