View source for Babesiosis

'''For patient information click [[{{PAGENAME}} (patient information)|here]]'''
{{DiseaseDisorder infobox |
  Name           = {{PAGENAME}} |
  Image          = Babiesa spp.jpg |
  Caption        = |
  ICD10          = {{ICD10|B|60|0|b|50}} |
  ICD9           = {{ICD9|088.82}} |
  ICDO           = |
  OMIM           = |
  DiseasesDB     = 1200 |
  MedlinePlus    = |
  eMedicineSubj  = |
  eMedicineTopic = |
  MeshID         = D001404 |
}}
{{Babesiosis}}
{{CMG}}

==[[Babesiosis overview|Overview]]==

==[[Babesiosis historical perspective|Historical Perspective]]==

==[[Babesiosis pathophysiology|Pathophysiology]]==

==[[Babesiosis epidemiology and demographics|Epidemiology & Demographics]]==

==[[Babesiosis risk factors|Risk Factors]]==

==[[Babesiosis screening|Screening]]==

==[[Babesiosis causes|Causes]]==

==[[Babesiosis differential diagnosis|Differentiating Babesiosis]]==

==[[Babesiosis natural history|Complications & Prognosis]]==

==Diagnosis==
[[Babesiosis history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Babesiosis physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Babesiosis laboratory tests|Laboratory tests]] | [[Babesiosis electrocardiogram|Electrocardiogram]]  | [[Babesiosis x ray|X Rays]] | [[Babesiosis CT|CT]] | [[Babesiosis MRI|MRI]] [[Babesiosis echocardiography or ultrasound|Echocardiography or Ultrasound]] | [[Babesiosis other imaging findings|Other images]] | [[Babesiosis other diagnostic studies|Alternative diagnostics]]

==Treatment==
[[Babesiosis medical therapy|Medical therapy]] | [[Babesiosis surgery|Surgical options]] | [[Babesiosis primary prevention|Primary prevention]]  | [[Babesiosis secondary prevention|Secondary prevention]] | [[Babesiosis cost-effectiveness of therapy|Financial costs]] | [[Babesiosis future or investigational therapies|Future therapies]]

==Pathophysiology==
''Babesia'' parasites reproduce in [[red blood cell]]s, where they can be seen as cross-shaped inclusions (4 [[merozoite]]s asexually budding but attached together forming a structure looking like a "Maltese Cross") and cause [[hemolytic anemia]], quite similar to [[malaria]].

Note that unlike the ''[[Plasmodium]]'' parasites that cause malaria, ''Babesia'' species lack an exo-erythrotic phase, so the liver is usually not affected.

==Diagnosis==
Babesiosis is easy to diagnose but only if it is suspected.  It will not show up on any routine tests.  It must be suspected when a persons with exposure in an endemic area develops persistent fevers and hemolytic anemia.  Babesiosis can be diagnosed by direct examination of the blood (see photo), with [[serology]], or with [[PCR]]-based tests.  Other laboratory findings include decreased numbers of [[red blood cells]] and [[platelets]] on [[complete blood count]].

==Treatment==
Most cases of babesiosis resolve without any specific treatment.  For ill patients, treatment is usually a two-drug regimen.  The traditional regimen of [[quinine]] and [[clindamycin]] is often poorly tolerated; recent evidence suggests that a regimen of [[atovaquone]] and [[azithromycin]] can be equally effective <ref name=Krause>{{cite journal | author = Krause P, Lepore T, Sikand V, Gadbaw J, Burke G, Telford S, Brassard P, Pearl D, Azlanzadeh J, Christianson D, McGrath D, Spielman A | title = Atovaquone and azithromycin for the treatment of babesiosis | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 343 | issue = 20 | pages = 1454-8 | year = 2000 | id = PMID 11078770}}</ref>.  In life-threatening cases, exchange transfusion is performed.  In this procedure, the infected red blood cells are removed and replaced with fresh ones.  

==References==
* Herwaldt BL, Persing DH, Précigout EA, et al. A fatal case of babesiosis in Missouri: Identification of another piroplasm that infect humans. Ann Intern Med 1996;124:643-65.
* Pershing DH, Herwaldt BL, Glaser C, et al. Infection with a Babesia-like organism in northern California. N Engl J Med 1995;332:298-303.
{{reflist}}

{{Protozoal diseases}}
[[es:Babesiosis]]
[[fr:Babésiose]]
[[it:Babesiosi]]
[[nl:Babesiosis]]
[[fi:Babesioosi]]

[[Category:Parasitic diseases]]
[[Category:Apicomplexa]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
[[Category:Mature chapter]]

[[pl:Babezjoza]]

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