Tick-born Babesiosis rearing it's ugly head in CT - Cheshire Herald

Tick season is here! Along with Lyme disease there is another tick-borne illness called Babesiosis rearing it's ugly head.

Symptoms are like that of Lyme disease but can be more severe and last longer.

"Babesiosis is another tick-borne disease that we hear about, in addition to Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and others," said Dr. Bobbi Pritt, director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic.

"Babesiosis is a parasitic disease transmitted by ticks. It's caused primarily by Babesia microti in the U.S., and that's transmitted by the same tick that transmits Lyme disease." 

Some people with babesiosis experience no symptoms, but the most common symptoms are a combination of

■severe flulike symptoms such as a high fever (up to 104° F), chills, and sweats, particularly night sweats■general discomfort or feeling unwell■intense headache■muscle and joint pain■loss of appetite■nausea■fatigue.

These symptoms can appear within one to nine weeks, or even several months after a person has been infected.

Dr. Pritt says the best way to avoid getting sick with babesiosis, Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections during tick season is to avoid getting tick bites. 

She recommends the ABCs of tick bite prevention:

■"A" stands for avoid. You want to avoid the areas where ticks are found and in the upper Midwest and Northeastern states where babesiosis is found. That means areas in the woods where there's brush, leaf litter and tall grasses. ■"B" stands for bug spray. Use it when you're outdoors and you think you're going to be exposed to tick bites or mosquito bites. ■ "C" stands for cover up. Wear protective clothing. If you have clothing over your skin, then the ticks won't be able to bite your skin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a bug spray that either contains DEET 30% or picaridin. You also could use bug spray that has oil of lemon eucalyptus in it. For more information, please visit the CD website at https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis/gen_info/faqs.html. 

Chesprocott Health District

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