How to Treat Babesiosis

Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by members of the Babesia genus, usually Babesia microti in the United States. These protozoans are found worldwide and babesiosis is emerging as a significant zoonosis. It is now endemic in the northeastern United States, especially Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket Island and Long Island where it is transmitted by the black-legged deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). The following steps will show how to treat babesiosis.

Instructions

• 1

  Expect most patients with babesiosis to have a mild illness that will resolve without treatment. However, all cases should be treated to prevent complications and transmission through blood donation.

• 2

  Treat babesiosis most often with clindamycin and quinine. The dosage of clindamycin is 20 mg/kg/day orally for children and 300 to 600 mg every six hours for adults. Quinine is given orally in dosages of 25 mg/kg/day for children and 650 mg every six to eight hours for adults. This therapy should be continued for seven to 10 days. However, side effects are common and is not always effective.

• 3

  Consider therapy with atovaquone and azithromycin to be a promising alternative. One study has shown this combination to be as effective as clindamycin and quinine, but with a much lower risk of side effects.

• 4

  Ponder experimental treatments for babesiosis. These include pentamidine with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and the anti-trypanosomal drug diminazene aceturate,

• 5

  Use exchange transfusions concurrently with chemotherapy in severely ill patients with high parasite loads and hemolysis. This combination should remove parasites and toxic factors from the blood.