| name: | Babesiosis |
| also known as: | Babesiosis Parasite Infection; Tick-Born; Tick-Borne; Tick Bite; Parasite Infection; ICD 088.82 |
| also see: | Malaria; ICD |
| description: | Babesiosis is a tick-borne parasite infection with a parasite babesia from either bovine or rodent source, causing a hemolytic anemia. Voles are the usual animal host and the deer tick the vector that transmits illness to humans. The babesia organism enters red blood cells, grow, eventually causing the red blood cell to rupture. Endemic areas in the USA include coastal areas of the north east such as Nantucket Island, Martha's Vineyard, Long Island, Fire Island, Shelter Island and the west coast. Sporadic cases have been reported in parts of Europe and Russia. Incubation period is anywhere from 5-35 days. Although transmission is via the bite of an infected tick, can also be contracted from contaminated blood transfusion. |
| signs & symptoms: | Includes no symptoms in very mild cases to general ill feeling or malaise, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, joint pain, jaundice, and anemia. Especially in a person who has had their spleen removed or who are immunocompromised, babesiosis infection can be quite serious, with high fever, severe hemolytic anemia, jaundice, shortness of breath, enlarged liver, enlarged spleen, and acute renal failure. |
| diagnosis: | Based on signs, symptoms, history and exam, as well as blood analysis to identify the organism within the blood, such as culture and gram stain, serology. Differential diagnosis includes sepsis, malaria, Lyme disease, hepatitis, leishmaniasis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and ehrlichiosis. |
| treatment: | Combination of drugs include quinine plus clindamycin, or, azithromycin plus atovaquone. If Lyme disease or ehrlichiosis is in the differential, might need to also add doxycycline. Patients with severe life threatening hemolytic anemia might require complete blood volume exchange transfusions, especially if there is a heavy burden of the parasite in the blood. Alternative drugs might include tetracycline, pyrimethamine, primaquine, and sulfadiazine. |
| prevention: | Insect repellent when in endemic areas. |
| outcome: | Most cases of babesiosis are self-limited and curable with only a few going on to severe potentially fatal disease. |
Last updated 7/25/2009