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Parasites -

Parasites are organisms that need other living organisms to survive. They do so by feeding off them. Some parasites are completely reliant on hosts to survive, while others are not.

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Types of parasites: helminths -

There are three main types of parasites: helminths, protozoa, and ectoparasites. Helminths are worms such as flatworms, flukes, and roundworms, and are visible to the naked eye.

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Types of parasites: protozoa -

Protozoa, on the other hand, are single-cell microorganisms that are not visible to the naked eye. These include leishmaniasis, amebiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis.

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Types of parasites: ectoparasites -

And finally, we have ectoparasites, which are insects and arachnids that latch onto the skin. Examples include ticks, fleas, lice, and mites.

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Babesiosis -

The parasite that transmits babesiosis is called babesia. The disease invades and destroys red blood cells. There are actually over a hundred species of babesia. While many of them can infect animals, not as many can infect humans.

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Regions -

Babesiosis is very much dependent on the climate and seasons, but cases have been reported in North America, South America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

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Climate and regions -

The parasite thrives in warmer weather and in some regions in particular. In the US, infections are more common in a few states, including Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.

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Cases are on the rise in the US -

Epidemiologic data concerning babesiosis cases has been collected since 1968, and numbers have been rising ever since.

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Nantucket fever has spread -

Babesiosis was initially known as Nantucket fever, because in the '70s there were a high number of cases specifically on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The disease has spread ever since, mostly across the Northeast and parts of the Midwest.

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Endemic states -

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seven states were initially established as endemic. These were Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

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More states -

But due to the rise in cases, three more states were added as endemic: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The states of New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut remain the ones with more cases, according to the CDC.

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Transmission -

The transmission of the disease occurs when an infected tick bites an animal or person. Transmission by other means is possible, but rare. While uncommon, babesiosis can be transmitted via blood transfusions and organ transplants.

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Transmission -

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually recommends blood donations from endemic states be screened for babesia. In addition, an infected mother can also pass it on to the baby through the placenta.

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It’s infectious -

The disease is caused by a pathogen, so it’s considered infectious. But because most people get it from ticks, and not by contact with another person, it’s not considered contagious.

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Symptoms -

Symptoms can vary, depending on the person. It’s estimated that about a quarter of those infected will not experience any symptoms at all, while others may experience mild to severe symptoms. Following the infection (i.e. bite), these symptoms can take from one week to several months to manifest.

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Symptoms -

People who experience a mild response to the infection often report a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, fever, chills, sweating, loss of appetite, headaches, muscle/ joint pains, and coughing.

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Symptoms -

Some people, however, can develop more severe symptoms, including shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), dark-colored urine, neck stiffness, and even mood swings.

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Who’s at risk? -

People who are immunocompromised (i.e. have a weakened immune system), such as cancer patients or those with HIV, are more at risk of developing life-threatening symptoms.

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Who’s at risk? -

Elderly people, and people with health conditions affecting the liver or kidneys, are also more at risk of experiencing serious symptoms. And so are people who do not have a spleen.

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Diagnosis -

Diagnosis can be challenging, especially because the symptoms are so varied and differ so much from one person to another. Suspicions may arise for those who live in the endemic states or have been to those regions.

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Diagnosis -

Blood tests are the only way to diagnose babesiosis. A peripheral blood smear (PBS) is usually done to identify any parasites in the red blood cells. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may also be conducted to look for babesia DNA or any antibodies, which would indicate a previous infection.

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Treatment -

In the presence of symptoms, antimicrobial medication and an antibiotic may be prescribed. Some doctors also prescribe Quinine, which is a drug often used to treat malaria. People who develop severe symptoms may need to be hospitalized.

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Treatment -

In addition to the medications previously mentioned, antipyretics may be used to control fever, as well as drugs to increase blood pressure. More severe treatments may include blood transfusions, respiratory support, and hemodialysis.

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Complications: hemolytic anemia -

Because babesiosis affects red blood cells, it can lead to hemolytic anemia, which is when the body is unable to produce enough new red blood cells to replace the ones destroyed by the disease.

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Complications: hemolytic anemia -

One of the many possible signs and symptoms of hemolytic anemia is an enlarged spleen, which can consequently burst. Splenic rupture is a medical emergency that needs to be addressed immediately.

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Complications: lungs -

Other severe complications can include pulmonary edema, which is when there is fluid buildup in the lungs.

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Complications: organ failure -

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and organ failure are also possible in vulnerable patients. Many of these severe complications can be fatal if not treated properly in a hospital.

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Prevention -

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from ticks that may carry the disease. These include avoiding walking through tall grass, covering the skin, and wearing lighter-colored clothes (makes it easier to detect ticks).

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Prevention -

Applying spray tick repellents containing DEET onto your skin and clothes is also a way to protect yourself. A product called permethrin can also be used on your shoes and clothes, but not on your skin.

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Prevention -

Always check for ticks before going indoors. If you have any on your skin, use tick tweezers to remove them. Ticks can carry other diseases that can be passed on to humans, including Lyme disease.

Sources: (CDC) (WebMD) (Health Digest)

See also: Celebs who struggle with Lyme disease

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