FOLKS, HERE is an article I found through Google on Babesiosis. NOTICE the cure time WITH or WITHOUT treatment, according to them. Jim ###
The Sleep Tight Video� Help for sleepless parents Encyclopedia Index -> B -> babesiosis | Search babesiosis
Babesiosis is a malaria-like illness is caused by a parasite which lives in the infected host's reb blood cells. It is transmitted by the hard-bodied ticks, members of the genera Dermacentor, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus. There are over 70 species of the organism, usually found only in one specific host such as cattle, deer, or mice. A few are able to infect humans incidentally. Additionally, babesiosis may be acquired through blood transfusion from an infected person who has no symptoms.
The primary endemic area of babesiosis in the United States occurs along the northeast coastal area, centering around Nantucket Island, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Long Island and Shelter Island, New York. Cases have also been reported from Georgia and California, and most recently, New Jersey. The small deer tick, Ixodes dammini, serves as the carrier or vector for both B. microti, and the agent of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi).
The infection is introduced by tick bites and rapidly invades the red blood cells, eventually rupturing them. The daughter forms of the parasite that are released then infect other red blood cells, and the cycle continues.
The incubation period is 1 to 6 weeks. A sudden or gradual onset of chills and fever is preceded by malaise, muscle aches, and fatigue. Jaundice, dark urine, nausea, and vomiting occur as blood cells rupture and release free hemoglobin into the bloodstream hemolysis. Mild enlargement of the spleen and/or liver may occur. Fulminant, even fatal cases rarely occur, most often in patients who have had the spleen removed or have a non-functional spleen.
Complete recovery occurs in several weeks, with or without antibiotics. Babesiosis may be underdiagnosed in children since it is generally less severe than in adults.
Babesiosis is to be suspected in febrile children with a history of a tick bite who live in or have traveled to an endemic area or have had a recent blood transfusion. It is usually diagnosed by microscopic identification of the parasites in a blood smear. A serologic blood test with good reliability is available at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The possibiity of co-infection with Lyme disease should be considered as well, because the two organisms share the same tick vector.
The recommended therapy for babesiosis is clindamycin and quinine in combination for 5 to 10 days. For life-threatening situations, exchange blood transfusions may be required.
Prevention of babesiosis involves avoidance of tick-infested areas, use of protective clothing and insect repellents, and a careful search for and removal of ticks. ###
NOW, I AM WONDERING, if WE ARE CURED FROM IT IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS WITH OR WITHOUT ABX, WHY BOTHER TREATING IT AT ALL? SOUNDS STRANGE TO ME. I ALSO DO NOT AGREE WITH HAVE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS. I WOULDN'T. JIM. Posted by hopeful123 (Member # 3244) on :
who says we are cured in six weeks?
babesiosis is one of the most difficult to treat of the co-infections.
this is wrong info, or is that your point?
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
That article contains misinformation. The facts are not true, and the disease is much more widespread. 6 weeks, what a joke! Usually treatment is 4-6 months.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
I saw something similar to this before on a search I did.
What strain of Babs are they talking about? Arent there more then one?
I just took it as in a healthy immune system it can be cured in a short period of time.
Posted by lucy (Member # 7802) on :
From my understanding, once you have Lyme and Babs, it becomes a lot harder to effectively treat either one.
This is probably true in regards to the other co-infections as well.
I do have a friend whose brother died from Babs in his 30's and he had a normal spleen and no signs of Lyme.
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
It may also be impacted by whether or not you have Bb and Babs or just Babs.
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
quote:Originally posted by JimBoB: NOW, I AM WONDERING, if WE ARE CURED FROM IT IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS WITH OR WITHOUT ABX, WHY BOTHER TREATING IT AT ALL? SOUNDS STRANGE TO ME.
Jim, Is there a date on that article? That was the exact reason given for not treating a positive Babs test, for me, 6 or 7 years ago.
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
Thank you, cave! Although I didn't really need a link. I don't suppose enough sarcasm showed in my post. Since I edited out the line that said...
"Thus insuring me more years of misery."
I'm pretty angry about not getting treatment at the time. Posted by david1097 (Member # 3662) on :
What school did those guys go to.... Someone should write to the dean...
Maybe the acute symptoms of mono infecion with babesiosis subsides in 6 weeks BUT it is widely recognized AND accepted that Babesia can and does sit in an asymtomatic state after intial infection. All it needs is a liitle help to come back and cause grief. Lyme is more than accomodating in that regard.
Also with or without anti biotics... Of Course, because antibiotics aren't what is needed with babesia. You need an antiprotozoal agent.
How best to avoid it? First by giving people the correct information.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I've heard of doctors quoting that article. What joke....or is it a CRIME to disseminate incorrect information which could cost somebody their LIFE?
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
*feels slightly disappointed at having missed the diatribe*
Hey, should we be worried about the restraints? Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
I have heard, and I'm not able to vouch for the accuracy, that babs can invade the bone marrow and continue producing infected cells. I do have an article that says it produces by binary fission and is independent of the replication cycle of the RBC. I think that this is rather scary stuff. It may make lyme cycles look tame. I would tend to take the information in the article lightly. I have been on mepron and z, still herx, chills and night sweats. Incline to disagree
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
WOW, I didn't know HOW MUCH interest this post about the article actually generated. For some reason, I lost track of it, and JUST found it NOW while searching for a different on I posted on Herbs.
Also, upon rereading it, I see I should maybe NOT have said the cure is in about 6 weeks as the article said SEVERAL WEEKS. That COULD be a lot more than 6 weeks. OR it could even be less.
Did bring out a lot of info though, thanks guys and gals.
Jim Posted by flyers999 (Member # 1397) on :
This article is definitely dated and probably written by Alan Steere. The point about blood transfusion is a giveaway because this is how some treated lyme back in the seventies.
Posted by hopeful123 (Member # 3244) on :
cave, i grow fangs late in the evening, as well.
Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
There have been very good articles in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology: essentially stating the uncertainty about asymptomology and carrier states in animal and human models. I think that we are back to square one:insurance companies have latched on to a study( studies) with experimental design flaws. This approach produced the one dose, two dose, two week dose will cure you anthology. Same garbage with the Lyme and other TBD. Medical models , I believe, particularly Western medicine does not want to address patient's chronicity nor the fact that they can't cure everything instanteously. They tend to look at that concept as failure in addition to insurance dollars continue to drive ideology.( Low initial cost equals correct answer). Now, my fellow lyme board people, if you believe that there is a magic bullet that will cure all of our babs in a single swoop, call me. I have beautiful real estate for sale in the South of France, too. In the mean time, I have heard babs invades the bone marrow -so if that is true, it will never subside. I am trying to look for literature to substantiate that..... if anyone sees it in print, let me know. Have a good day!!! Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I wonder if he's Dumb or Dumber? In this case might be Dumbest?
Some believe these super bugs are not being touched by abx today because of our abuse of abx over the years. I disagree.
I didn't do abx as child or adult but very rarely. What I did do is live in a very toxic world and when I met up with these super bugs they had the edge over me and my immune system.
Pam
Posted by Lymester (Member # 5848) on :
Trying to give the Bum Steere.
Article of no value.
Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
Cave:
Thank you. I tend to write dense text.
I was a registered nurse holding three BS degrees: Psychology, Biology, Nursing before this happened.
I am losing my eyesight. Contrast senstiivty, blurring, night blindness. Without contacts, the entire world is black. Neuro opth doing to do test on brain stem. Does not look good right now.
I type my brains out with my face a hand length over keyboard so I still can communicate with all of you. My science brain still works.
I try to read as much as possible when I am able. From what I have learned, there is no easy fix, let alone a fix. I wonder if babs and lyme with the antagonistist effects on immune system, if it is even possible to eradicate? Perhaps, that is a false premise in itself.
Thanks for your edit. Ice
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
Geeeezzz, the more we hear, the worse it hears.
Sounds like NO hope at all.
jim Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
Been beating my head too long.
It SHOULD have said: the worse it SOUNDS.
Jim Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
I don't mean to discourage anyone.
Ijust can;t find anything out there so far that sounds like a fix.
Then there is the issue do most tests scan for WA 1 strain? what about the other strains? what if you are infected with more than one Strain?
I just don't know...............
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
After administering steroids and observing a patient with no improvement for three weeks, you would next recommend surgery? Bell's Palsy is a huge -- and we are talking GIANT -- red flag for Lyme disease, and you're not even going to mention it??? Please do not cut on anyone before thinking of this! In fact, please do not give steroids to someone until you're certain they do not have Lyme disease, as steroids will greatly complicate and prolong treatment for Lyme.
Please do not make the mistake of many doctors and rule out Lyme disease on the basis of a negative ELISA as the first part of a two-step testing procedure. Up to 52% of people with chronic or disseminated Lyme disease will test negative on ELISA but positive on a Western Blot (Donta, 2002).
Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in America. Please learn about it so you can better help the patients whose lives you protect. Thank you!
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