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The tick population is predicted to explode this season. A mild winter meant a rise in the mouse population that many ticks feed on and allowed ticks to stay active for a longer period during the year. And that means there’s going to be a lot more tick bites happening this year and a lot more tick-borne illnesses like babesiosis.
While probably not as familiar an illness to most people as the similar Lyme disease, babesiosis can be just as dangerous if left untreated. But with a little bit of knowledge and some basic precautions, you can protect yourself and enjoy your summer. So what is babesiosis? How is it treated? And what can you do to prevent it?
What is Babesiosis?
Babesiosis is a disease spread by parasites that live inside the body of a specific kind of tick, the blacklegged deer tick. This parasite, Babesia microti, attaches itself to the red blood cells that circulate through the body. The first human cases of babesiosis weren’t discovered until 1957 when a Hungarian farmer contracted the condition and died a few weeks later. Since then, babesiosis has spread to much of the rest world, where the number of infections has been increasing rapidly.
Typically, the symptoms resemble that of the flu and include things like fever, headache, muscle pains, and fatigue. Many people who are infected, however, display no symptoms. And a lot of people with babesiosis have no idea that they have it.
The disease is usually spread by the bites of ticks in their larval, or nymph, stage. And because these ticks are so small, they are usually very hard to spot. And the small bites means you likely won’t feel it. But babesiosis can be very dangerous to people with a compromised immune system.
The parasites attaching themselves to the red blood cells can gradually destroy them, resulting in a dangerous condition called hemolytic anemia, which eventually causes your organs to be starved of oxygen and begin dying.
How is it Treated?
The first step in treating any illness is the diagnosis. And babesiosis presents some particular challenges when it comes to getting a diagnosis. To begin with, the symptoms are usually hard to detect. And the disease is rare enough that most doctors likely won’t think to look for it.
So being aware of the possibility of babesiosis infection is important. And so is being aware of any tick bites that you receive and monitoring your health for a few weeks afterward so you’ll notice the early flu-like symptoms. If you can inform your doctor that you think you might have been exposed, they can then test your blood for the babesiosis parasites.
Once you have a diagnosis, most cases of babesiosis are easily treated with the same measures doctors use to treat other parasitic illnesses like malaria. A 7-10 day course of treatment with basic anti-malarial drugs is usually enough to cure babesiosis.
How can you Prevent it?
But by far, the best thing to do is to practice some basic preventive measures whenever you go outside. Babesiosis, Lyme disease, and other similar illnesses are spread by the bite of infected ticks. So by avoiding tick bites, you can avoid these diseases quite easily.
The first step is to be aware of where ticks are likely to live. Ticks feed by hanging off of tall stalks of grass and grabbing onto the legs of animals as they pass by. So avoid any large patches of tall grass that are likely to have ticks in them. Any area that’s densely wooded or generally untouched by people is a good source of ticks. And you should exercise particular care anytime you do outdoor activities like hiking or camping, but anytime you go outside, you run the risk of a tick bite.
Luckily, you can avoid most ticks by not giving them an opening onto your skin. As hot as it may be, wear long pants rather than shorts, and tuck the legs of your pants into your socks. This forces ticks to climb over your clothes instead of under them, where you are less likely to spot them in time.
Secondly, use a good bug repellant whenever you go outside. Spray it on any exposed skin and on the legs of your pants where ticks are likely to try to grab on. And finally, check your body for any ticks whenever you come back inside.
By following these steps, you can avoid babesiosis along with all tick-borne illnesses. So just remember, be aware of the danger, but don’t let it stop you from enjoying your summer.
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