Sunday 3 July 2011

Babesia : A Lyme co-infection not recognised in humans in SA

For me this is a particularly intersting article.  I have been treated with anti-malarial drugs but never fully understood the reason until I read this article.  Recently whilst doing a deox and having live blood analysis, malaria parasites were seen to be in my red blood cells.  Over a period of 6 weeks, a parasite or two was seen under darkfield microscope on five of these six occasions.  What is even more amazing, this is just in a pin prick of blood...   I wouls love to see a significant sample of my blood under microscope... or would I !!

"Babesiosis is an infection caused by a malaria-like parasite, also called a “piroplasm,” that infects red blood cells. Babesia microti is believed to be the most common piroplasm infecting humans, but scientists have identified over twenty piroplasms carried by ticks."

"Symptoms of babesiosis are similar to those of Lyme disease but it more often starts with a high fever and chills. As the infection progresses, patients may develop fatigue, headache, drenching sweats, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Babesiosis is often so mild it is not noticed but can be life-threatening to people with no spleen, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. Complications include very low blood pressure, liver problems, severe hemolytic anemia (a breakdown of red blood cells), and kidney failure."