Cyclospora
Background
- one celled microscopic parasite that causes intestinal infection
- fecal-oral transmission
- endemic in tropical and subtropical regions
Signs/Symptoms
- watery (sometimes explosive) diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased flatus, nausea, and fatigue
- can last days to over a month
- In immunocompromised hosts, cyclospora may cause severe, intractable, voluminous diarrhea resembling cryptosporidiosis. Extraintestinal disease in patients with AIDS may include cholecystitis and disseminated infection.
Diagnosis
- stool O&P
Treatment
- Bactrim
References
1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Cyclosporiasis. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/gen_info/faqs.html