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.
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.