Babesiosis: symptoms, causes, treatment

Definition

What is babesiosis?

Babesiosis is an infectious disease caused by head lice. Fleas usually carry a microscopic organism called Babesia.

Because the Babesia parasite infects and destroys red blood cells, babesiosis can cause a special type of anemia called hemolytic anemia. This type of anemia can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and dark urine.

How common is babesiosis?

Anyone can become infected with Babesiosis. However, people who frequently engage in outdoor activities are usually at an increased risk of getting tick bites. You can reduce your chances of getting an infection if you avoid risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of babesiosis?

Babesiosis is a disease condition that does not have sufficient noticeable symptoms. You will feel the common cold and flu. If your immune system is good, maybe there will be no symptoms or complaints. However, people with Babesiosis usually experience these symptoms:

Fever
Cheerful
Sweating a lot
Headache
Muscle ache
Joint pain
Fatigue

If the symptoms are getting worse, the following symptoms may also appear:

Dark urine
Rash that spreads
Enlarged liver and spleen
Yellow skin (jaundice).

In addition, there are also some characteristics and symptoms that are not mentioned above. If you have the same complaint, please consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

Contact your doctor if you experience symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, fever, rash, or any of the above complaints. Consulting a doctor is the best thing you can do.

Cause

What causes babesiosis?

The parasite that causes babesiosis is a very small parasite named babesia microti is the cause of most cases of this infection. The named deer tick Ixodes Scapularis are the fleas that usually carry these parasites.

You may not feel or remember the tick bite, because it is only the size of a poppy seed. Patients may also get this disease if they get an infection from a blood transfusion that contains parasites.

Infection babesia microti and Borrelia Burgdorferi (bacteria that cause disease Lyme) can also occur because fleas usually carry both parasites.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for babesiosis?

You have a higher risk of developing babesiosis in the warm seasons, especially in the summer because that is when most lice appear.

The absence of risk does not mean that you are free from possible exposure to distractions. The features and symptoms listed are for reference only. You need to consult a doctor for more information.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for babesiosis?

The most common treatment is antibiotics (paracetamol). When the infection is treated with paracetamol, other symptoms such as pain can be treated with acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

What are the usual tests for babesiosis

The doctor will diagnose based on complaints as well as a physical test. If you are suspected of being infected with babesiosis, the doctor will take a blood sample to be examined under a microscope to see if there are these parasites in your red blood cells.