Korean J Parasitol.
2018 Dec;56(6):609-613. 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.609.
Two Imported Cases of Babesiosis with Complication or Co-Infection with Lyme Disease in Republic of Korea
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea. jhbaek@inha.ac.kr
- 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea.
- 3Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea.
- KMID: 2441623
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.609
Abstract
- Babesiosis, caused by Babesia microti and B. divergens, is transmitted by Ixodid ticks. Symptoms of babesiosis vary from a mild flu-like illness to acute, severe, and sometimes fatal and fulminant disease. In Korea, 7 imported babesiosis cases and 1 endemic case have been reported. We report 2 cases of severe babesiosis initially mistaken as malaria. The first patient was complicated by shock and splenic infarction, the other co-infected with Lyme disease. As the population traveling abroad increases every year, physicians should be aware of babesiosis which mimics malaria, co-infection with other diseases, and its complications.
