Reality television personality Leroy Garrett recently detailed a severe bout with cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection causing debilitating diarrhea that is currently surging across the United States. Garrett, 41, who appeared on 'The Real World: Las Vegas,' took to Instagram on Wednesday to explain his experience with the illness.
"This past weekend, I spent the majority of my time on my toilet because I contracted the parasite that's going around infecting people's intestines and making them have severe diarrhea," Garrett stated. He described the symptoms as "explosive" and "vicious," comparing the sensation in his stomach to "Timberland shoes in a dryer."
Garrett's condition became so severe that he considered visiting an emergency room, opting instead for an urgent care clinic. Medical professionals required a stool sample for testing before prescribing medication. Due to the lab being closed on Sunday, he was sent home with the sample to be returned the following day.
"I don’t know exactly when or what produce I consumed, I just know that I spent a romantic weekend with my toilet," Garrett remarked in a post caption, warning others to "be careful out there." He noted that he was eventually able to obtain medication to treat the infection.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cyclospora infection impacts the small intestine and commonly results in watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements. Symptoms can last from a few days to over a month, with periods of improvement followed by relapses. While the illness is not typically life-threatening, it can be more prolonged for immunocompromised individuals. Antibiotics are available for treatment.
The primary source of the current outbreak is still under investigation by the CDC. As of Thursday, health officials in Michigan, where Garrett resides, are tracking more than 4,312 cases, with over 100 individuals hospitalized, according to the Health and Human Services department.