Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite causing cyclosporiasis, a digestive tract infection that primarily affects children and seniors. It spreads through contaminated food and water, with symptoms including watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue. Prevention through proper food handling and sanitation is essential to reduce the risk of infection.

1. CYCLOSPORA
How to Stay Safe

2. INTRODUCTION
•Cyclospora is a particularly nasty stomach
bug
•The trouble these days is that there are so
many food-borne illnesses going around
that it can be tough to figure out which one
you are suffering from in order to get the
correct treatment as quickly as possible
•As with all stomach bugs, children and
seniors are most at risk.
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3. 1-What is Cyclospora?
•Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite
composed of one microscopic cell.
•When humans become exposed to this
parasite, they become ill with an infection
in the digestive tract and intestines called
cyclosporiasis.
•This results in various unpleasant and
potentially dangerous symptoms.
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4. 2-How is Cyclospora Spread?
•Cyclospora is spread when a person eats or
drinks something that has been contaminated
with the Cyclospora parasite.
•The main source of contamination is stool
(feces, excrement) from a sick person.
•The stool can contaminate food growing in the
ground or water that has not been chemically
treated to remove impurities.
•Once the Cyclospora parasite is consumed by a
person, it begins to multiply in their small
intestine, in most cases eventually leading to a
range of symptoms.
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5. 3-Who is Most at Risk of Contracting
a Cyclospora Infection?
•Cyclospora is common in many tropical
and subtropical countries around the
world that are lacking in good sanitation
systems.
•Travelers can become ill
•People who eat a lot of food that is
prepared by other people are also at
greater risk
•Those who don’t wash their produce well
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6. 4-What are the Symptoms of
Cyclosporiasis?
•Watery diarrhea
•Frequent, sometimes 'explosive', bowel
movements.
•Other symptoms may include:
* loss of appetite
* weight loss
* stomach cramps/pain
* bloating
* increased gas
* nausea
* fatigue.
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7. 5-How is Cyclosporiasis
Diagnosed?
•To get a correct diagnosis that the cause
of your symptoms is from cyclosporiasis
and not another foodborne illness or virus
like Norovirus, you will need to see your
doctor.
• Once you are there, you will be asked to
give a stool sample so that your feces
can be tested to see if the Cyclospora
parasite is present.
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8. 6-How Do Doctors Treat Laboratory-
Confirmed Cases of Cyclospora
Infection?
•Confirmed Cyclospora infections are treated
with antibiotics.
•At present, the usual protocol is antibiotics
given in combination therapy, that is, two
antibiotics to destroy the parasites in your
small intestine.
•All antibiotics should be taken as prescribed
to get the bacteria completely out of your
system.
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9. 7-Symptom Alert: Diarrhea and
Vomiting and the Dangers of
Dehydration
•If you or your loved one is:
• a senior
• a young child
• a person with a compromised immune system
• having trouble keeping down fluids
• pregnant, or suspect that you may be pregnant, or
• experiencing a sudden worsening of symptoms, or
new symptoms not on the main list of symptoms
provided above
• it is time to see a doctor, or go to the nearest
emergency room to be tested for Cyclospora.
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10. 8-What is the Best Way to Prevent
Cyclospora Infections?
•A-Prevention Overseas
•i-Drinking Water Safety
•ii-Food Safety
•iii-Other Travel Health Tips
•B-Prevention at Home
•i-Household Hotspots
•ii-Washing Your Hands Well
•iii-Hotspot Alert: Safety in the Workplace
•iv-Avoiding Food-borne Illness
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11. 9-Food Safety is Key
•Handling Raw Produce Safely
•Keeping the kitchen clean
•Choosing
•Storing
•Washing
•Cooking
•Food properly according to safety
recommendations
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12. CONCLUSION
•Knowing what cyclospora is, the
symptoms, causes, and how it spreads,
can help you and your family stay safe
•It can also stop you from spreading it to
your whole family, or anyone vulnerable
to illness
•Cyclospora can be avoided if you do all
you can to prevent it-education and care
are key.
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13. FURTHER READING
•To learn more, visit:
http://wp.me/p42Yi6-1pr
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