What is Babesiosis? Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Babesiosis is a rare and potentially life-threatening infection that affects your red blood cells. It is usually spread by ticks and is caused by tiny parasites called Babesia, with the most common type affecting humans being Babesia microti. These parasites enter your bloodstream when an infected deer tick bites you.

How Babesiosis Spreads

While tick bites are the most common way babesiosis spreads, there are other ways you can contract this infection:

• Contaminated blood transfusions

• A pregnant, infected mother passing it to their baby in the womb or during birth

Babesiosis usually occurs in warmer months and ticks carrying the parasite have been found in various locations, including:

• Block Island, R.I.

• Fire Island, Shelter Island, and eastern Long Island, N.Y.

• Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

• Nantucket, Mass.

• Coastal areas of New Jersey

Cases of babesiosis have also been reported in other states, such as California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as in Europe.

Symptoms of Babesiosis

Signs of babesiosis typically appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure to the parasite. Some people may not experience any symptoms, while others may have:

• Body aches

• Chills

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Headache

• Loss of appetite

• Sweating

In some cases, you may develop a condition called hemolytic anemia, where your red blood cells die faster than your body can produce new ones. Symptoms of hemolytic anemia include:

• Confusion

• Dark-colored urine

• Dizziness

• Heart murmur

• Rapid heart rate

• Swelling of your spleen and liver

• Very pale skin

• Weakness

• Yellow skin, eyes, and mouth (jaundice)

Symptoms may be more severe in elderly individuals, those without a spleen, or people with weakened immune systems due to health conditions or medications. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor and inform them of any recent travel, as ticks can be as small as a poppy seed and bites may go unnoticed.

Diagnosing Babesiosis

To diagnose babesiosis, your doctor will order blood tests to check for signs of infection, including examining your blood under a microscope to look for the presence of Babesia parasites. Additional blood tests may be conducted to rule out conditions with similar symptoms, such as anaplasmosis or Lyme disease, which are also caused by ticks. It is possible to have Lyme disease and babesiosis simultaneously.

Treatment and Prevention of Babesiosis

If you are not experiencing any symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. However, if you have symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medications such as atovaquone, which kills microorganisms, along with the antibiotic azithromycin. Another combination that may be recommended is quinine with the antibiotic clindamycin.

To prevent babesiosis, it is essential to protect yourself from tick bites. Ticks typically need to remain attached to your body for 36 to 48 hours to cause an infection. Here are some prevention tips:

• Avoid overgrown grasses and leaf piles, where ticks are likely to be found

• Wear long pants tucked into your socks and a long-sleeve shirt when in areas where ticks thrive

• Opt for light-colored clothing to easily spot ticks

• Use bug repellant containing DEET on your skin and clothing

• Check your clothing and pets for ticks before going indoors

• Once inside, thoroughly check your entire body for ticks using a full-length or hand-held mirror

• Remove any ticks with pointed tweezers

By understanding the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of babesiosis, you can better protect yourself and your loved ones from this rare but potentially life-threatening tick-borne infection. If you suspect you may have babesiosis, seek medical attention promptly for proper diagnosis and treatment. For more information on tick-borne diseases, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.