Key facts
- Hallmark: watery, frequent, sometimes explosive diarrhea.
- Incubation: about 7 days (up to ~2 weeks) after exposure.
- Pattern: often relapsing — eases, then returns.
- Duration: untreated, can last weeks (commonly up to 6–7).
Cyclosporiasis — infection with the Cyclospora parasite — typically announces itself with watery, frequent diarrhea. Alongside it, people often report loss of appetite, unintended weight loss, abdominal cramping, bloating and gas, nausea, fatigue and a low-grade fever; occasional vomiting occurs. What distinguishes Cyclospora from a short-lived stomach bug is its relapsing, remitting course: symptoms can ease for a day or two and then come back, and the whole illness can stretch on for weeks.
The Cyclospora timeline
After you swallow the parasite, there is an incubation period of about a week (sometimes up to two) before symptoms begin. Left untreated, the illness commonly persists for up to six or seven weeks, with the relapsing pattern above. The timeline tool below turns an approximate exposure date into a general picture — it is educational, not a diagnosis.
Red flags — see a provider now
Use the educational explainer to think through your symptoms and whether they warrant a provider visit or testing. It never returns a diagnosis, and any urgent sign routes you to care.
How Cyclospora symptoms differ from other bugs
Giardia, Cryptosporidium, norovirus and Salmonella can all cause diarrhea, but they differ in onset, duration and how they spread. Because the symptoms overlap, testing — not guesswork — is how the cause is confirmed. Compare them side by side, then read how Cyclospora stool testing works.
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Order Your GI-MAP™ Test → How it worksFrequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Cyclospora?
Watery, frequent diarrhea, often with appetite loss, fatigue, cramping and nausea, starting about a week after exposure.
How soon after eating contaminated food do symptoms start?
On average about seven days, ranging up to roughly two weeks.
How long do symptoms last?
Untreated, up to six or seven weeks with a relapsing course; treatment usually shortens it.
Do Cyclospora symptoms come and go?
Yes — relapsing and remitting is characteristic.
Will it go away on its own?
It may, but it can persist for weeks. Because effective treatment exists, see a provider. Learn about treatment options.
Sources & further reading
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora).
- Public Health Agency of Canada — Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora).
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — stool parasite testing (why routine O&P can miss Cyclospora).
Outbreak figures reflect the named authorities as of the dates shown and should be re-verified against the current CDC and PHAC data.