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Babesiosis

Frederick W Nielson, Medical Doctorate Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Rare tick-borne hemolytic disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia

  • Infrequently reported outside the United States

    • Internationally, sporadic cases h...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Travel history to endemic regions as well as exposure history are helpful.

  • The tick must remain attached for at least 24 hours before the transmission of B. microti occurs.

  • Severe disea...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • In areas endemic for Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis, doxycycline 100 mg BID PO empirically treats coinfection until serologic testing is complete.

  • Drug resistance has emerged i...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • If left untreated, silent babesiosis may persist for months or years (2).

  • Alkaline phosphatase levels >125 U/L, WBC counts >5 × 109/L, history of cardiac ab...

REFERENCES

1
Waked R, Krause PJ. Human babesiosis. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022;36(3):655–670.
2
Vannier  E, Krause  PJ. Human babesiosis. N Engl J Med.  2012; 366(25): 239...

ADDITIONAL READING

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parasites-Babesiosis. Resources for Health Professionals. Accessed 04 July 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/babes...

CODES

ICD10

  • B60.0 Babesiosis

SNOMED

  • 21061004 Babesiosis

  • 73908004 Infection by Babesia microti

  • 24620004 Hemolytic anemia due to babesiosis

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Ticks must remain in place for 24 hours to transmit infection. Encourage daily “tick checks” if people are exposed in high-risk areas.

  • Most patients do not recall tick exposure, and inc...

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