Dr. MJ Bazos MD,
What is babesiosis?
Babesiosis (say: "bab-e-see-oh-sis") is a rare
illness that is caused by a parasite, or bug, that lives in some ticks. Deer
ticks carry the parasite that causes this illness. Whenever you find a tick on
yourself or on someone else, try to save it to show to your doctor.
Babesiosis infections have been reported in many
parts of the United States. The most common areas are in Connecticut and on the
islands off Massachusetts and New York.
What are the symptoms of
Symptoms include fever (as high as 104°F),
chills, sweating, weakness, tiredness, poor appetite and headache. Some people
with the illness may not have symptoms. But sometimes the illness quickly
becomes serious and can even cause death. Babesiosis can affect people of all
ages, but most people who get it are in their 40s or 50s.
How can my doctor tell if I have
Your doctor will need to do blood tests to see
if you have this illness. Your doctor might do more blood tests to look for
other infections that ticks carry.
How is babesiosis treated?
Two antibiotics are usually needed for
treatment. If you have babesiosis, you may need to go to a hospital to be
If you develop shortness of breath or any other
symptoms after you start taking the antibiotics, tell your doctor right away.
How can I prevent babesiosis?
During the months of May through September, stay
away from places where ticks are common. This is very important if you've had
your spleen removed, if you have had an organ transplant or if you have HIV
infection, AIDS or other problems with your immune system.
You may want to use insect repellent when you
are outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy places. One of the best tick
repellents is N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also called DEET.
Products with 10% to 35% DEET will provide good protection under most
Early removal of ticks is important. A tick must
stay attached to your body for at least 24 hours before it can pass on this
parasite. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in areas where ticks live you
should check yourself for ticks every day. Check your pets also, because they
may carry ticks into your home.