Diagnosis

Cyclosporiasis is diagnosed from a stool sample designed to find the parasite. Routine testing may not always identify cyclospora. You may have to give more than one stool sample before the parasite is identified or detected.

Your healthcare professional also may ask you about your symptoms and how long you've had them and about anything you may have eaten.

Treatment

Many people recover from cyclosporiasis without needing medical treatment. You may feel better over time with rest and fluids.

If you need medicine to clear out the infection, a healthcare professional may give you a prescription for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). You may take this medicine for around 7 to 10 days. If you have a weakened immune system, you may need to take a higher dose or take the antibiotic for longer.

Request an appointment

Lifestyle and home remedies

You often can manage cyclosporiasis symptoms with rest and fluids. Water or drinks with minerals, called rehydration solutions, may help replace fluids lost to vomiting or diarrhea. You may be able to eat a small meal or snack every few hours instead of larger meals.

Avoid spicy foods if they make your symptoms worse. Until you recover, limit drinks with caffeine, and avoid alcohol. Also avoid food and drink with a high amount of sugar, which can worsen diarrhea.

Ask a healthcare professional before taking medicine you can get without a prescription to stop diarrhea, bloating or upset stomach.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Request an appointment

Symptoms & causes Doctors & departments

Aug. 08, 2026

Cyclospora prevention, response and research action plan. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cyclospora-prevention-response-and-research-action-plan. Accessed July 22, 2026.
Cyclospora cayetanensis: Background document for the WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality and the WHO guidelines on sanitation and health. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/items/75c7c8fb-7c2d-49f6-ac95-a5e0ffe98bdd. Accessed July 13, 2026.
Cyclosporiasis. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/intestinal-protozoa-and-microsporidia/cyclosporiasis. Accessed July 13, 2026.
Weller PF. Cyclospora infection. www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 13, 2026.
Cyclospora infection (cyclosporiasis). New York State Department of Health. https://health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/cyclosporiasis/fact_sheet.htm. Accessed July 13, 2026.
Markon AO, et al. Evaluating foodborne cyclosporiasis using foodborne diseases active surveillance network and foodborne disease outbreak surveillance system data, 2015-2019. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2024; doi:10.4269/ajtmh.24-0208.
Kliegman RM, et al. Cryptosporidium, cystoisospora, cyclospora, and microsporidia. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 13, 2026.
Kellerman RD, et al. Intestinal parasites. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2026. Elsevier; 2026. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 13, 2026.
Symptoms & causes of diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/symptoms-causes. Accessed July 24, 2026.
Kahler AM, et al. Sources and prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in southeastern U.S. growing environments. Journal of Food Protection. 2024; doi:10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100309.
Diarrhea nutrition therapy. Nutrition Care Manual. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://www.nutritioncaremanual.org. Accessed July 24, 2026.
Cyclospora. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cyclospora. Accessed July 24, 2026.
Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. July 24, 2026.