Saba Azad opened up about her condition describing past fourteen days as extremely difficult. She revealed that she has been hospitalised due to Cyclospora cayetanensis infection, causing rapid weight loss of nearly 4 kg, along with severe weakness, making even simple movement challenging. She mentioned how sudden shift from active workout routine to complete exhaustion left her shocked. She also shared precautionary advice urging everyone to wash vegetables properly before consumption. Along with this, Saba credited Hrithik Roshan for lifting her mood during recovery by bringing positivity in difficult moments.
See Saba Azad's post here
What is Cyclospora cayetanensis?
Cyclospora cayetanensis refers to microscopic parasite responsible for intestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis. Organism survives inside human digestive system leading to stomach related illness. It gained global attention after multiple food related outbreaks reported across countries.
How Cyclospora cayetanensis spreads?
Infection usually occurs through consumption of contaminated food or water. Fresh produce like leafy vegetables herbs fruits often become carriers if not cleaned properly. Parasite spreads through fecal contamination though direct person to person transmission remains rare because organism needs time outside body to become infectious.
However to cure it doctors generally treat infection using combination antibiotics such as trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole. With proper care most healthy individuals recover fully though symptoms like diarrhea, fatigue and stomach discomfort may last for weeks if untreated. Medical supervision remains important especially in prolonged cases.
Big Question: Can it become life threatening?
In most situations infection does not turn fatal however it can pose risk for individuals with weak immunity elderly or young children. Major concern arises from dehydration caused by continuous illness. Timely treatment hydration and nutrition support help prevent serious complications and ensure safe recovery.
Actor and singer Saba Azad recently shared on Instagram that she has been hospitalised following a severe infection caused by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis.
Despite being very careful about eating home-cooked food and carrying her own water, she noted that she lost 4 kg in just two weeks and suffered from extreme physical weakness.
Here is a breakdown of what this infection means, how it spreads, and how you can protect yourself.
What is Cyclospora cayetanensis?
It is a microscopic, single-celled parasite that infects the small intestine.
🛑 Common Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear about 1 to 2 weeks after consuming contaminated food or water. They can include:
Severe watery diarrhea (the most common symptom)
Extreme fatigue and muscle weakness
Loss of appetite and rapid weight loss
Stomach cramps, bloating, and gas
Nausea and low-grade fever
If left untreated, the symptoms can persist for weeks or even months, often relapsing (going away and coming back), which explains why Saba described it as the "worst 14 days" of her life.
How Does it Spread?
Unlike many bacterial foodborne illnesses, Cyclospora is not transmitted directly from person to person.
Instead, it is spread through the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or water.
Common culprits include:
Fresh Produce: It is frequently linked to raw fruits and vegetables, particularly salad greens, herbs (like cilantro/coriander), and berries that have been irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
Contaminated Water: Drinking untreated water containing the parasite.
How to Protect Yourself
Because Cyclospora is a hardy parasite, standard chemical rinses or chlorine often do not kill it. Here is how you can reduce your risk:
Wash Veggies Thoroughly: Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
Use Friction: Scrub firm produce (like cucumbers or melons) with a clean produce brush.
Advanced Rinsing: As Saba noted in her post, many people rely on soaking leafy greens in a mixture of baking soda and water or a dedicated herbal veggie wash to help dislodge microscopic bugs.
Cook Your Food: Heat kills the parasite. If you are traveling or unsure about the hygiene of raw produce, stick to cooked meals.
If you are ever dealing with prolonged stomach issues or sudden, unexplained fatigue and weight loss, it is always a good idea to see a doctor—standard tests for bacteria might miss a parasite like this!
Would you like some more tips on how to sanitize raw fruits and leafy greens safely at home?
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