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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have a mild case of cyclospora infection, you may not need to seek medical treatment because it will clear up by itself. However, you may want to call your doctor if the illness lasts more than a few days or if it appears to be causing dehydration.
What you can do
You may want to write a list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
- Information about your past medical problems
- Details on recent travel abroad or exposure to contaminated foods
- Information about the medical problems of parents or siblings
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
For cyclospora infection, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms? Are there any other possible causes?
- Will I need any tests?
- What's the best treatment approach? Are there any alternatives?
- Will I need to take medicine?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- What can I do at home to help ease my symptoms?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor will need to know certain details about your illness to make a diagnosis. Be prepared to answer questions such as:
- When did the illness begin?
- Are your symptoms continuous or do they come and go?
- How often do you experience vomiting or diarrhea?
- Can you tell whether the vomit or diarrhea contains bile, mucus or blood?
- Do you have a fever?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
References
- Cyclosporiasis FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/gen_info/faqs.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2011.
- Weller PF, et al. Cyclospora infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2011.
- Suh KN, et al. Cyclospora cayetanensis, Isospora belli, Sarcocystis species, Balantidium coli, and Blastocystis hominis. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00280-0. Accessed Aug. 18, 2011.
- WGO practice guideline: Acute diarrhea. Munich, Germany: World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO). http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=12679. Accessed Aug. 18, 2011.
- Craig SA, et al. Gastroenteritis. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00092-X. Accessed Aug. 18, 2011.
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