The Tick-Borne Disease Babesiosis Can Cause Neurological Symptoms

Tick-borne infections can result in neurological symptoms, as is the case with babesiosis. 

Whenever someone tells me they found a tick bite or got diagnosed with Lyme disease, I always reply, “Make sure you’re evaluated for co-infections, too, or you might only be fighting half the battle.” Awareness of other tick-borne diseases like babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus is important because some co-infections require different treatment than Lyme disease. For example, babesiosis, a tick-borne parasite that affects the red blood cells, is often treated with anti-malarial medication.

In order to be properly treated for co-infections, you need to be properly diagnosed with them, and in order for that to happen, both patients and physicians need to be on the lookout for specific symptoms. Symptoms of babesiosis can include fever, sweats, chills, myalgias (muscle aches and pains), air hunger, lightheadedness, weakness, shortness of breath, hemolytic anemia, jaundice, low platelet count, anorexia, headache, nausea, vomiting, congestive heart failure, and renal failure. A new study warns of another serious manifestation of babesiosis: neurological issues.

A Case Study

Published in Cureus in July 2022, “Atypical Presentation of Babesiosis with Neurological Manifestations as Well as Hematological Manifestations” is a case study of two patients with confusion/cognitive impairment, slurred speech, ataxia (poor muscle control), fever, myalgias, chills and urinary frequency and urgency. The patients were treated for babesiosis (as well as Lyme and anaplasmosis, and Mycoplasma in the second patient). The study reports, “Following two days of treatment, cognition, as well as speech, improved dramatically.” Both patients were treated successfully after a total of 10 days.

The study notes that neurological manifestations of babesiosis are “exceedingly rare but could be fatal if left undiagnosed.” It’s therefore important not just for people to consider babesiosis when they have a sudden onset of neurological symptoms—particularly if they’ve been bitten by a tick or have spent time in tick-endemic areas—but also for those of us who already have babesiosis to consider that it could be flaring if we have neurological symptoms. I tend to notice my own babesiosis flare-ups when I start having night sweats and air hunger. But when my neurological symptoms flare, I usually assume it’s my “Lyme brain” acting up. In the future, I will talk to my doctor about babesiosis during these periods, to see if medication adjustments should focus on Lyme, babesiosis, or both.

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The above material is provided for information purposes only. The material (a) is not nor should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor (b) does it necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. or any of its directors, officers, advisors or volunteers. Advice on the testing, treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.