Signs and Symptoms of Babesiosis

Key points

  • Many people do not feel sick and have no symptoms. However, some may get flu-like symptoms.
  • Symptoms can take weeks or months to develop.
  • Babesiosis can become a life-threatening disease for the elderly, those without a spleen, or weakened immune systems.
Nymph phase of the blacklegged tick.

Signs and symptoms

Many people with babesiosis do not feel sick and have no symptoms. However, if symptoms do occur, they can start about a week after infection and usually take a few weeks or months to develop and can sometimes take even longer.

Some people might get flu-like symptoms, such as:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Sweats
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue

Since the parasites attack red blood cells, babesiosis can lead to a type of anemia called hemolytic anemia. This type of anemia can lead to jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and dark urine.

Babesiosis can become a severe, life-threatening disease, particularly in people who

  • Do not have a spleen
  • Have a weak immune system for other reasons like cancer, lymphoma, or AIDS
  • Have serious health conditions like liver or kidney disease
  • Are older (>50 years old)

Babesiosis can lead to serious health problems including

  • Low and unstable blood pressure
  • Severe hemolytic anemia
  • Very low platelet count
  • Widespread clotting and bleeding in your body, known as disseminated intravascular coagulation (also known as "DIC" or consumptive coagulopathy)
  • Vital organs like your kidneys, lungs, and liver not working properly
  • Death
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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)