infectious diseases
Babesiosis
Symptoms and Signs of Babesiosis
AsymptomaticBabesiainfection may persist for months to years and remain subclinical throughout its course in otherwise healthy people, especially those<40 years. When symptomatic, babesiosis usually starts after a 1- to 2-week incubation period with nonspecific symptoms including malaise, fatigue, chills, fever, headache, myalgia, and arthralgia. In healthy people, symptoms usually resolve after a week. In others, hepatosplenomegaly with jaundice, mild to moderately severe hemolytic anemia, mild neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia may occur. Noncardiac pulmonary edema can develop in severe disease. Babesiosis is sometimes fatal, particularly in older patients, asplenic patients, and patients with AIDS. In such patients, babesiosis may resemble Falciparum malaria , with high fever, hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinuria, jaundice, and renal failure. Splenectomy may cause previously acquired asymptomatic parasitemia to become symptomatic. Babesiosis in neonates ranges from mild to severe febrile illnesses. 