Hundreds of illnesses across the United States have been linked to an outbreak of an intestinal ailment that has health officials searching for answers to its source.
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Cyclosporiasis is a type of stomach illness that can cause diarrhea and stomach cramps.
This infection is caused by a parasite called Cyclospora, which gets transmitted by consuming water or food that contains it.
It is important to note that this infection is not a bacteria. Parasites are living organisms that need host bodies to breed and survive.
The infection spreads when people consume water or food that contains feces. This can be seen in water that isn’t properly treated or produce that isn’t properly washed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water before and after handling produce.
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The CDC also recommends that people wash fruits and vegetables under running water before preparing them. They also say to use a clean produce brush on firm fruits and vegetables.
The CDC said produce labeled “prewashed” does not require another wash but that any bruised or damaged areas on your produce should be removed.
Any cut, peeled or cooked fruits must be refrigerated, the CDC said.
But what happens if you are already infected? The CDC recommends contacting healthcare providers in order to receive the necessary treatment which could include antibiotics like Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
The CDC said most people can recover without treatment but that could result in the period of infection lasting a month or more. They also said the people most at risk are those with poor health.
You may also experience relapsed symptoms, according to the CDC.
The CDC listed the symptoms to be watery diarrhea as well as explosive bowel movements.
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Other symptoms the CDC listed were:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Abdominal cramping/bloating
- Increased flatus
- Nausea
- Prolonged fatigue
- Other symptoms can include
- Vomiting
- Body aches
- Low-grade fever
- Other flu-like symptoms
Cyclosporiasis is usually not viewed as life-threatening according to the CDC.
The source of the outbreak is still being investigated.
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