infectious diseases
Babesiosis
Key Points
Endemic areas of babesiosis in the US include the coast and islands of southern New England and New Jersey as well as parts of the upper Midwest and Northwest. Babesiosis ranges from a mild, asymptomatic infection to a severe, life-threatening illness (mainly in older or asplenic patients or in patients with AIDS or other immunocompromising conditions). Symptoms are nonspecific and may resemble those of malaria, with prolonged fever, headache, myalgias, and sometimes jaundice. Diagnose using light microscopy of blood smears and sometimes with serologic or PCR-based tests. Treat symptomatic patients withatovaquoneplusazithromycinor, if symptoms are severe,quinineplusclindamycin. 