On parasites, injuries, and viruses: staying healthy at SDCC

 15 JULY 2026

Just in time for our favorite week of the year, a disgusting new parasite is invading America's small intestine - and potentially, convention center restrooms. Unless you're one of those people who never watch the news, you've probably heard of cyclosporiasis by now. That's the illness and the little bugger that causes it is called cyclospore cayetanensis. Currently there are over 2000 cases in the States and they are mostly thought to stem from contaminated fresh produce. 

Bad news for everyone sticking to salads to make sure they fit into their Starfire cosplay.

I'm not telling anyone what to eat - although I did painstakingly pick every single bean sprout off my pad thai tonight - but it is a good idea to learn the basics of our new intestinal friends and form your own approach to protecting yourself. No one wants to confront a restroom line when diarrhea hits. And a lot of us will be dining out next week, with less control over our food prep than we'd normally have.

But parasites aren't even the big bad of SDCC. People get sick all the time at Comic-Con. It's just inevitable with thousands of people milling around up close and personal and touching books, escalator rails, elevator buttons, and other germ-friendly locations. But maybe Con Crud isn't the most common affliction either. Maybe that belongs to the mostly preventable overuse injury, which includes every throbbing knee, sore hip, stiff neck, and aching back, all boiling down to one reason: a lot of attendees walk and stand way, way, more than they're used to.

I know we're a week out but here are a few things you can do to protect yourself.

Rest up. 

Once, in my Comic-Con youth, I could carouse all night, hitting beach parties, Gaslamp bars, hotel room parties, and end it all by greeting the rising sun; now I absolutely need a decent amount of sleep. If that's you, rest up this coming weekend. If your hotel might be noisy, figure out a solution like soft earplugs or white noise. Once you're at the Con, try to set aside at least one night for a good sleep and don't be afraid to take naps.

Boost your immunity now.

Because I'm 60% hippie, I ingest quite a few supplements and swear by their powdery magic. Probably you have a different protocol - but whatever that is, zinc, echinacea, immunity boosters, a B-12 shot - start your regimen now. Not when you get there.

Protect your feet. 

So often people hear "bring comfortable shoes" and translate that to, "wear your old trainers you've had for years." But the shoes that feel comfortable on a lazy Sunday are not often the same shoes that will ferry you comfortably through days of 20,000+ steps and hours in line. 

If you haven't bought seriously supportive shoes yet, do that immediately and break them in each day so you're not in blister hell at SDCC. Or at least buy a nice pair of quality orthotics.

And if you are mostly sedentary, start walking every day. You actually can build up a moderate tolerance over the next week, if you walk and stretch every day. You'll be in much better shape come Preview Night.

On a nightlife note - you may be packing spike heels or dominatrix boots for nights on the town, but I would caution you to pack comfortable options too. Vanity is often the first casualty after Day 1 at Comic-Con. 

On that note, bring a collapsible stool, camping pad or some other support.

Even spry young things can suffer in a long line. It's truly horrible to work so hard to make it to SDCC and then miss a top panel because your bad back is screaming at you to go back to the hotel. There are some really convenient and portable options out there these days.

Eat well.

Maybe you love food trucks and Subway; maybe you already have a reservation at Nobu; maybe you have a taste for Exhibit Hall french fries. What matters is remembering that you can't always eat when you want to if you're going to be in long lines and panels, so account for that and don't skip too many meals or eat too much crap. Keeping your mood and blood sugar stable goes a long way at SDCC.

Bring a small pharmacy. 

Or order it when you get there - but do have the wonders of modern medicine on hand. Ibuprofen, eye drops, band-aids, sunscreen, back/knee/ankle braces, condoms, digestive cures, and other magic tricks can help you enjoy Comic-Con instead of suffering through a headache, constipation, or sunburn, or worse. 

  

Protect your mental health. 

If this is your first SDCC, you might be surprised at how emotional it can be. Not always in a positive sense - roommates fight, Holy Grail exclusives sell out, friends go to a party without you, the 24/7 bombast snaps your last nerve. It's a bit of a pressure cooker. Identify a retreat where you can have some quiet time. Maybe it's just a movie at the Marriott where you can sit in the dark for a while, or a local 12-step meeting, or a morning walk around the zoo. If you know you are highly sensitive, arrange in advance to have a friend on standby or a therapist or a telepsych appointment.

Ask CCI for help.

CCI offers rest areas, private areas for nursing mothers, a first aid team, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters, special seating, mobility and disability assistance. This is all there for you, the attendee, so go ahead and ask for it.

No one wants to be sick or injured - or a host to a parasite - at Comic-Con. It happens easily, but it can be avoided easily for the most part too.

1 week!