Saturday, February 24, 2018 by Rhonda Johansson
Cyclosporiasis, or cyclospora infection, is a gastrointestinal tract disease caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanesis. Medical health groups have warned that following the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, cyclosporiasis is a growing pathogenic threat. It is not fatal but can be very debilitating.
Cyclospora is spread through the intake of food or water contaminated with either human or animal feces. What makes the infection more dangerous is that the parasite incubates for a few days before manifesting itself into severe symptoms.
Those most at risk of cyclosporiasis are those who frequently travel to tropical or subtropical regions in the world. This is because the parasite is endemic in these zones. In the United States, people may still get infected by consuming tainted imported fresh produce.
It takes around one week for you to manifest any type of symptom. Initial manifestations typically include:
If the infection is severe, symptoms can include:
The infection affects your gastrointestinal tract.
The infection is caused by consuming feces-tainted food items. The best way to prevent getting sick is to source your food from reputable places. If you are planning on traveling to high-risk areas, make sure that you practice proper hygiene habits including washing your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, washing your hands before preparing or eating food, drinking only bottled water, and avoiding raw fruits and vegetables.
There are no food items or nutrients that can prevent you from contracting the parasite.
The infection is easily treated with antibiotics.
Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that damages the gastrointestinal tract. It occurs when patients consume food contaminated with either animal or human feces.
The incubation period for the disease is roughly 10 days. After which time patients may begin experiencing a variety of symptoms, not least of which are watery diarrhea and frequent and explosive bowel movements.
The infection can be prevented by practicing good hygiene.
It is treated with antibiotics.