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You are Here: Home Page > Communicable Disease > Babesiosis  

Babesiosis

• Ticks and Lyme Disease

Updated: October 2011

What is babesiosis?

Babesiosis is a rare, severe and sometimes fatal tick-borne disease caused by various types of Babesia, a microscopic parasite that infects red blood cells. In New York state, the causative parasite is Babesia microti.

Who gets babesiosis?

While anyone can get babesiosis, it can be more severe in the elderly, people who have had their spleen removed or in immunocompromised individuals. Cases of this disease in the U.S. have been primarily reported during spring, summer and fall in coastal areas in the Northeast, including on Long Island in New York State, Nantucket Island off the coast of Massachusetts and in New Jersey. Cases also have been reported in the some upper Midwest states, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in California, Georgia, Missouri and some European countries.

How is babesiosis transmitted?

Babesiosis is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. Transmission can also occur via transfusion of contaminated blood and possibly from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery.

What are the symptoms of babesiosis?

The disease can cause fever, fatigue and hemolytic anemia lasting from several days to several months. Infections can occur without producing symptoms.

When do symptoms appear?

It may take from one to eight weeks, sometimes longer, for symptoms to appear.

Does past infection with babesiosis make a person immune?

It is not known whether past infection with babesiosis can make a person immune.

What is the treatment for babesiosis?

While many people do not become sick enough with babesiosis to require treatment, there are effective therapies, usually either a combination of quinine and clindamycin or a combination of atovaquone and azithromycin. It is possible to become infected with babesiosis and Lyme disease at the same time, so be sure to seek medical attention if you become ill after a tick bite.

What can be done to prevent babesiosis?

When in tick-infested habitat - wooded and grassy areas - take special precautions to prevent tick bites, such as wearing light-colored clothing (for easy tick discovery) and tucking pants into socks and shirt into pants. Check after every two to three hours of outdoor activity for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks on clothing before skin attachment occurs. A thorough check of body surfaces for attached ticks should be done at the end of the day. If removal of attached ticks occurs within 36 hours, the risk of tick-borne infection is minimal.

Repellents can be effective at reducing bites from ticks that can transmit disease. But their use is not without risk of health effects, especially if repellents are applied in large amounts or improperly. Repellents commonly available to consumers contain the active ingredients DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin (also known as KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus, permethrin, or botanical oils. DEET products have been widely used for many years, but have occasionally been associated with health effects. Skin reactions (particularly at DEET concentrations of 50 percent and above) and eye irritation are the most frequently reported health problems. Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus have been shown to offer long-lasting protection against mosquitoes but there are limited data regarding their ability to repel ticks. Products containing permethrin are for use on clothing only, not on skin. Rather than acting as a repellent, permethrin kills ticks and insects that come in contact with treated clothes. Permethrin can cause eye irritation. Insect repellents containing botanical oils, such as oil of geranium, cedar, lemongrass, soy or citronella are also available, but there is limited information on their effectiveness and toxicity. If you decide to use a repellent, use only what and how much you need for your situation. In addition:

• Be sure to follow label directions.
• Use repellents only in small amounts, avoiding unnecessary repeat application. Try to reduce the use of repellents by dressing in long sleeves and pants tucked into socks or boots.
• Children may be at greater risk for reactions to repellents, in part, because their exposure may be greater. Do not apply repellents directly to children. Apply to your own hands and then put it on the child.
• Do not apply near eyes, nose or mouth and use sparingly around ears. Do not apply to the hands of small children.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.

How should a tick be removed?

Grasp the mouthparts with tweezers as close as possible to the attachment (skin) site. Be careful not to squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash hands. See or call a doctor if there are concerns about incomplete tick removal. Do not attempt to remove ticks by using petroleum jelly, lit cigarettes or other home remedies because these may actually increase the chance of contracting a tick-borne disease.