Severe babesiosis in Long Island: review of 34 cases and their complications

Juanita Hatcher, PE Greenberg, J. Antique +1 more2001Clinical Infectious DiseasesJournal Article

10.1086/319742 PubMed

CardiovascularHematologicalMusculoskeletalRenalRespiratory/Sinus

Lyme & Co-Infections

Abstract

Thirty-four consecutive patients were hospitalized with diagnosis of severe Babesia infection over the course of 13 years. The average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 15 days. When compared with uninfected febrile control patients, affected patients complained significantly more often of malaise, arthralgias and myalgias, and shortness of breath (P10%; P=.08). Patients were treated with a combination of drugs that included clindamycin, quinine, atovaquone, or azithromycin. Despite treatment, parasitemia persisted for an average of 8.5 days (range, 3--21 days). Exchange transfusion was performed for 7 patients, and it effectively reduced the high levels of parasitemia. Three patients died. Improved outcomes may result with prompt recognition and treatment of babesiosis.

Key Biomarkers

Abnormal liver functionHigh parasitemia levelsSevere anemiaThrombocytopenia

Symptom Clusters

Acute respiratory failureArthralgiasCongestive heart failureDisseminated intravascular coagulationMalaiseMyalgiasRenal failureShortness of breath

Cited By (1)

Disease‐Specific Diagnosis of Coinfecting Tickborne Zoonoses: Babesiosis, Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis, and Lyme DiseaseClinical Infectious Diseases · 2002

References (5)