Doctors warn your stomach bug may actually be part of US foodborne parasite outbreak

Health officials are warning that what many people dismiss as a routine summer stomach bug may actually be cyclosporiasis, as the U.S.experiences one of its largest foodborne parasite outbreaks on record.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 1,600 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May, with over 5,100 additional cases currently under investigation.The intestinal infection is caused by Cyclospora (Cyclospora cayetanensis), a microscopic parasite that spreads through contaminated food or water.The outbreak has sickened thousands of people, particularly in Midwestern states such as Michigan and Ohio, causing prolonged bouts of severe gastrointestinal illness.Symptoms usually begin about one week after consuming contaminated food or water, although the incubation period can range from about two days to two weeks, according to the CDC.Early symptoms can overlap with those of a common viral stomach bug, including abdominal pain, nausea and watery diarrhea.

Some patients also experience loss of appetite, fatigue and weight loss.The primary differences lie in how long the illness lasts and how severe the symptoms become, according to Dr.Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician based in South Carolina.Routine stomach bugs are typically short-lived, resolving within 24 to 48 hours, the doctor said.

Even if mild symptoms linger, patients generally feel better after two days.“Cyclospora is different in this regard,” Perry told Fox News Digital.“It lasts longer, with far more profound watery, foul-smelling diarrhea and abdominal cramping.”It is possible to test for Cyclospora, but healthcare providers must specifically request it, as the parasite is not routinely included in standard stool testing and many gastrointestinal PCR panels do not detect it, according to the CDC.Diagnosis is made by examining stool specimens, although patients may need to submit several samples collected on different days, as even symptomatic peop...