Babesiosis
Here's another reason to avoid ticks:
cases of the tick-borne disease, babesiosis, have also occurred
in Rhode Island.
Babesiosis, which is rarer than Lyme disease
and can be fatal, is caused by a parasite carried by deer and rodent ticks. The
parasite infects the red blood cells, causing anemia. Infection is more common
in those who have a compromised immune system or who have had their spleen
removed.
Symptoms
Symptoms may take up to one year to appear, and some
individuals infected with the disease do not show any symptoms at all. Signs of babesiosis include:
- fever
- fatigue
- lack of appetite
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- fever
- body aches
- headache
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Treatment
A course of antibiotics and medications used to treat malaria has been
effective in treating the disease. There is no standard treatment for babesiosis.
Reduce your risk
Here's how you can avoid tick-borne diseases
A local resource: Lyme Disease Clinic at Rhode
Island Hospital
Lyme Disease
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