It hurts. It’s explosive. It is wet and it just will not stop.
Most food poisoning is a nasty three-day sprint. You sweat. You hate yourself. You recover.
This is not that.
If you have been dealing with watery bathroom issues since the mid-July outbreak picked up, pay attention. The CDC has confirmed over 1,600 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 14. Another 5,100 are under investigation. It is a parasite. It lives in fecal matter that contaminates your food. It is spreading through the US and it does not care who you are.
Cyclosporia can range from barely noticeable to severe, lasting for weeks without treatment.
— Dr. Supriya Rao
What food got you? No one knows for sure.
Michigan officials pointed at lettuce. Previous outbreaks blamed cilantro, basil, snap peas, raspberries. Maybe it was a salad. Maybe it wasn’t. The incubation period is longer than usual. You eat it. You feel fine. Days later, your stomach rebels.
Diagnosing it is tricky because the symptoms are generic. Upset stomach. Nausea. Watery diarrhea that is distinctly not bloody. Salmonella attacks the tissue, drawing blood. This parasite prefers profuse waterworks.
Here is how to tell if it’s serious.
Time matters more than comfort
Standard stomach bugs fade in 48 to 72 hours. Cyclospora laughs at that timeline.
It can last weeks.
Symptoms might dip, then surge again. A waxing and waning nightmare. If you still feel weak three days post-ingestion, that is a red flag. Persistent diarrhea. Loss of appetite. Deep fatigue.
You cannot guess based on the stool’s appearance alone.
Stool tests are mandatory for diagnosis. They must look specifically for cyclospora. If it sits untreated, the parasite hangs on. Your body takes longer to clear this protozoal infection than it would for common bacteria.
Your baseline matters
Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome? You know your limits. You know a flare-up when you see one.
IBS flares do not last weeks. They do not bring on severe fatigue alongside the usual pain.
Notice what feels wrong.
- Low-grade fever?
- Exhaustion that doesn’t match the discomfort level?
- Symptoms lingering far past the norm?
These are not normal IBS quirks. These are signals.
Dr. Supriya Rao suggests raising cyclospora to the top of the list if you recall eating fresh produce. Lettuce. Salads. Things that look innocent.
Is it deadly? Probably not for a healthy 30-year-old. But dehydration is the enemy here.
There is a fix. But you have to ask.
The treatment is an antibiotic. Trimethoprim-sulfamethaxole usually does the trick in 7 to 10 days.
The problem is access.
You cannot buy this over the counter. You need a provider. You need a test.
Vulnerable groups suffer more. Older adults. Those with suppressed immune systems. They handle dehydration poorly. They tolerate the infection less.
The rule is simple. If it lasts two or three days, go see a doctor. Do not wait it out. Do not hope it fades.
The salad looked crisp. It tasted fresh. It felt like a good choice at the time.
Now you are just waiting to see if tomorrow brings relief.
