Some school districts make changes to cafeteria menus amid rise in cyclosporiasis cases

As cases of cyclosporiasis continue to rise across the state, parents are growing concerned about how the illness could affect their children.

While most children recover on their own, experts say the best defense is preventing infection through proper food safety.

"We've been really encouraging people to wash fruits and vegetables very thoroughly," said Jennifer Hidinger, a pediatrician with Oberlin Pediatrics.

For parents like Phillissia Glenn, that's not always something they can control as their children spend time away from home.

"One is in summer camp. One is in pre-school. They get food from outside sources," she said. "I don't want them to get sick."

Some school districts are already taking extra precautions.

Durham County Public Schools is removing fresh produce from its menu until September in an effort to reduce the risk of exposure.

If children do become infected, pediatricians say their symptoms are similar to those seen in adults. Diarrhea is the most common symptom, but doctors say dehydration as a result is the bigger concern for younger patients.

"It's just much harder for them to keep up with those fluid losses. They're more likely to get dehydrated," said Emily Greenwald, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Duke University Hospital.

Doctors say most children won't need emergency care. Instead, parents should monitor symptoms, make sure their children stay hydrated, and contact their healthcare provider if symptoms become severe or don't improve.

"Other than lasting longer than those typical three days, really it's no different than any other diarrheal illness, and the vast majority of people, including children, will work through this on their own and are not going to spread it around the entire school just because of the way it is spread," Greenwald said.

WRAL News reached out to several school districts with questions about changes they may be making to avoid the spread of cyclosporiasis. We are still waiting to hear back.