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.
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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)