“The Challenge” star Leroy Garrett is getting back on his feet after dealing with a case of the “explosive diarrhea” illness spreading across the U.S., he said on social media.
The 41-year-old said in a July 15 Instagram video that he contracted the parasitic illness – called cyclosporiasis – that can cause severe gastrointestinal issues.
“This past weekend, I spent the majority of my time on my toilet,” he said in the video.
Cases of cyclosporiasis have surged in more than 30 states in recent weeks. Michigan – where Garrett lives with his wife, fellow “The Challenge” star Kam Williams, and their two children – is tracking more than 3,700 infections as of July 15, according to the state’s Health and Human Services department.
While officials have not yet determined what’s causing the rise in cases, Michigan’s health department indicated that they are looking into whether lettuce is the source of the state’s outbreak.
‘Like Timberlands in a dryer inside your stomach’
Garrett, who has appeared on more than a dozen seasons of the MTV competition show, said he went to urgent care, where doctors gave him a stool test before prescribing medication to help with his symptoms.
“It got so bad that I thought I was gonna have to go to the ER,” he said.
The “Real World: Las Vegas” alumnus said he had “explosive, vicious” diarrhea that kept him on the toilet for much of the day and awake in the middle of the night.
“It feel like you got Timberlands in a dryer inside your stomach,” he said. “Imagine putting some Timberlands in a dryer. You know what that would sound like? That’s what your stomach sounds and feels like.”
He also urged his followers to be cautious, adding, “this parasite is real.”
“I don’t know exactly when or what produce I consume, I just know that I spent a romantic weekend with my toilet,” he wrote in the caption.
What is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, according to the CDC.
The illness is not usually life-threatening and can be treated with antibiotics, but symptoms may last longer for those who are immunocompromised, according to the agency.
As of July 13, the CDC confirmed more than 1,600 cases nationwide, but is also working to verify more than 5,000 additional infections.
The CDC said on July 14 that cases in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky are likely linked. Officials have yet to identify a specific source of the outbreak.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usatoday.com ’
