posted
I've hread the testing for babesia is even less reliable than testing for lyme for much the same reasons--many strains of babesia, but tests only look for a couple.
You could also try artemisinin if you think you have babs. My LLMD thinks I have it too, tests negative, but I'm allergic to the abx.
Posts: 303 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Jul 2010
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Here is Burrascano on the subject, page 23:
"Diagnostic tests are insensitive and problematic. There are at least thirteen, and possibly as many as two dozen Babesia forms found in ticks, yet we can currently only test for B. microti and WA-1 with our serologic and nuclear tests. Standard blood smears reportedly are reliable for only the first two weeks of infection, thus are not useful for diagnosing later infections and milder ones including carrier states where the germ load is too low to be detected. Therefore, multiple diagnostic test methods are available and each have their own benefits and limitations and often several tests must be done. Be prepared to treat based on clinical presentation, even with negative tests."
My doc treated my babesiosis with Bactrim DS. I never had babs symptoms until the Bactrim. Then, they came out.
So, I would report those babs symtoms to the doc and see what he thinks. Treating babs may be what gets you to 100%.
I think it is well worth the try, especially considering the statistics. See in the quote below the high rate of lyme patients testing positive for babs (Burrascano, page 23):
"Babesia infection is becoming more commonly recognized, especially in patients who already have Lyme Disease. It has been published that as many as 66% of Lyme patients show serologic evidence of co-infection with Babesia microti. It has also been reported that Babesia infections can range in severity from mild, subclinical infection, to fulminant, potentially life threatening illness. Subclinical infection is often missed because the symptoms are incorrectly ascribed to Lyme. Babesia infections, even mild ones, may recur even after treatment and cause severe illness. This phenomenon has been reported to occur at any time, including up to several years after the initial infection!"
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I had a babs test and came up negative. Started treating Lyme and came down with major air hunger, unlike any i've ever experienced. Also have fevers on a regular basis, but i sometimes don't even notice them.
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