Everyone Thinks They Have the Diarrhea Parasite
A recent outbreak of the parasite cyclospora has caused widespread concern, amplified by social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. While the actual number of cases is significant, the viral nature of the discussion has created a perception of a larger, more pervasive health crisis.
Why it matters
This highlights how social media algorithms can distort public perception of health risks, leading to widespread anxiety and self-diagnosis.
Joye Pate was forced to ask the question earlier than most, when she woke up on a Monday in late June with stomach cramps. The 28-year-old had recently taken a trip to New York, and her first assumption was that she had eaten something that disagreed with her stomach. She went to the bathroom and noticed that her stools were loose.
“An hour after that, I found myself back in the bathroom,” Pate tells WIRED. “And essentially, it just kept happening every hour or so.”
Monday was hourly diarrhea. Tuesday was more of the same. By Wednesday, Pate was frantically Googling, trying to figure out the cause. On Thursday—after days of consuming little other than broth and crackers—Pate finally discovered a potential explanation: cyclospora.
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