Florida woman says Cyclospora parasite left her bedridden for days: "I couldn't even move"

A South Florida woman is recovering after a diagnosis of cyclosporiasis, a diarrhea-causing parasitic infection that left her bedridden for days.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis.

Nina Diaz said the symptoms began suddenly, leaving her severely dehydrated and unable to move.

"From one second to the next, it just took over," Diaz said. "When I was shaking from dehydration, I couldn't even move my body. I was in bed for days. I had to get an IV in my system so I could be hydrated."

Diaz said her symptoms began with intense stomach pain, which became so severe that she required a house call from a physician. She suspects the infection originated from a salad kit she purchased, though the source remains unconfirmed.

"The parasite is living inside of me, and that's it," Diaz said.

Dr. Craig Harrison, an emergency physician at Broward Health, said infections caused by the Cyclospora parasite typically present symptoms that last longer than a standard stomach bug.

"It usually can take about a week or more for the symptoms to start, and then the symptoms can persist for several weeks," Harrison said.

Cyclosporiasis symptoms

Symptoms after consuming eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water can include: 

• Watery diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Harrison advised that patients do not necessarily need to visit the emergency room for testing. He noted that primary care offices and urgent care centers can collect samples, though results may take a day or two.

"That's where working with your primary health care team to follow up and then cater the treatment and antibiotics accordingly," Harrison said.

According to the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, approximately 8% of cyclosporiasis cases in the United States require hospitalization. Harrison noted that pinpointing the specific food or meal that caused the infection can be difficult.

Cyclospora parasite in Florida

According to the Florida Department of Health, at least 50 cases have been reported in Florida so far this year, including cases in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties. 

The CDC is investigating a multistate outbreak, and while contaminated fresh produce has been linked to many past outbreaks, investigators have not identified a single source responsible for the current nationwide increase in illnesses.