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Cyclospora, Pediatric

Jessica R. Newman, DO Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Cyclospora cayetanensis, a coccidian protozoan, causes a diarrheal illness first described in humans in 1979. 

EPIDEMIOLOGY

  • Worldwide distribution, with areas of endemic infection (Nep...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Fever

    • Low-grade fever is common.

  • Clinical prodrome

    • Acute onset of diarrhea is typical, but a flulike prodrome may occur.

  • Nature of the diarrhea

    • Profuse, nonbloody, watery diarrhea that may...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Immunocompetent patient: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (5 mg/kg) IV/PO twice a day for 7 to 10 days

  • HIV patient: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 3 times a day for 10 days and then pro...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Infected patients need to be observed closely for dehydration.

  • Relapse may occur in HIV patients, so close follow-up is essential.

PROGNOSIS

  • Most c...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis—United States, June–August 2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.  2013;62(43):862. [View Abstract on OvidInsi...

CODES

ICD9

007.5 Cyclosporiasis 

ICD10

A07.4 Cyclosporiasis 

SNOMED

240372001 Cyclosporiasis (disorder) 

FAQ

  • Q: Does routine ova and parasites testing detect Cyclospora?

  • A: Rarely. Therefore, modified acid-fast staining must be done to improve the laboratory’s ability to detect the oocysts.

  • Q: Can person-t...

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