Babesiosis: Symptoms & Signs

Babesiosis is a disease caused by the parasite Babesia.

Signs and symptoms of babesiosis include flu-like symptoms such as

• fever,
• chills,
• sweats,
• headache,
• body aches,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea, and
• fatigue.

Other associated symptoms and conditions include hemolytic anemia and enlargement of the liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly). The symptoms begin 1-4 weeks after the tick bite and can last for several weeks.

Cause of babesiosis

Babesia spreads from animals to humans by infected ticks. There are over 100 species of Babesia parasites, but only a few have been shown to cause disease in humans. In the U.S., the illness usually occurs in the Northeast or Midwest. The definitive vector is the deer tick, Ixodes dammini (I. scapularis).

Other babesiosis symptoms and signs

• Body Aches
• Chills
• Enlargement of the Liver
• Enlargement of the Spleen
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Hemolytic Anemia
• Loss of Appetite
• Nausea
• Sweats

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