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Babesiosis is a tick-borne parasitic infection that can also be transmitted through blood transfusions. Symptoms include aches, fever, and anemia. It is most common on the east coast of the US and can be fatal for some. Prevention, such as wearing long clothing and using insect repellent, is important.
Babesiosis is a fairly rare tick-borne disease, transmitted by the deer tick, which can also carry Lyme disease or ehrlichiosis. Unlike Lyme disease, the condition can also be transmitted through blood transfusions. The infection itself is not bacterial, but is instead a parasitic infection. It can be treated similarly to malaria, with either quinine or clindamycin, an atypical antibiotic drug.
Most cases of babesiosis occur on the east coast, particularly in places like Nantucket Island. Some cases have also occurred in isolation on the West Coast and in some Midwestern states. Babesiosis may be underreported because the infection may not cause any symptoms in healthy people. Healthy people can easily recover from infections without treatment.
Those most at risk of serious illness from infection include the elderly and people with compromised immune systems or who have had a splenectomy. Babesiosis can also mean that a person has been infected with Lyme disease. The two conditions can be transmitted by the same tick bite, which can complicate diagnosis.
Symptoms, when present, can occur anywhere from one to eight weeks after a tick bite. In rare cases, symptoms can appear years after infection. A person with the parasite could develop symptoms of the disease if they contract HIV or have a splenectomy.
More typically, symptoms emerge in the first few weeks. They include aches, fever, malaise, nausea and vomiting, headache, night sweats, and anemia. While many cases respond to treatment, people who are vulnerable to the disease may have continued symptoms even with treatment. These can include liver failure or extreme mental confusion. When both Babesiosis and Lyme disease are present, the disease can be much more serious and more difficult to treat.
Because babesiosis is rare, it may not always be diagnosed. If a person is aware that they have recently had a tick bite, most medical professionals will do blood tests to look for the presence of the parasite in their blood cells. On the other hand, when a person does not know they have had a tick bite, the disease may not be suspected. A significant clue to this possible disease is anemia and mild to severe jaundice.
Babesiosis can have serious implications for the elderly and those with autoimmune conditions or who have immune-compromised symptoms. Even with treatment, the condition is fatal for a small percentage of people who get it. Most will recover completely and many may never know they have the infection.
Because treatment isn’t always successful, prevention of tick bites is especially important. Wear long sleeves and long pants (in light colors) in grassy areas or forest areas or anywhere where deer ticks may be present. Doctors also recommend using insect repellent with DEET and thoroughly checking the body for ticks after being in such areas. If you find a tick, follow the steps on how to remove a tick and have the tick tested for tick-borne diseases.
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