Warning Signs Of Babesiosis

Nausea And Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that tend to occur after the early symptoms have already set in, though there's a huge variation in symptoms from person to person. It is possible for someone to experience vomiting and nausea without having any of the more characteristic symptoms of the disease. Pain in the abdomen often accompanies the vomiting and nausea, though this isn't always the case. Some patients may have an enlarged spleen or liver, which can contribute to nausea. If an immune-compromised individual develops babesiosis, they may have damage to their kidneys and impaired liver function that leads to jaundice. Impaired kidney and liver function can further contribute to the feelings of nausea and unwellness. If individuals are experiencing persistent vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain, they should see a doctor. Most causes of these symptoms clear up within a few days, and if their symptoms don't resolve, it's a sign of a serious underlying issue.

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Appetite Loss

Appetite loss can occur in babesiosis patients due to a combination of different factors. The parasitic invasion of the B microti in the red blood cells causes them to sustain extensive damage to its membrane, inducing apoptosis. When this process reaches a degree where more red blood cells are being destroyed than the patient's body can create, it is referred to as hemolytic anemia. The large amounts of red blood cells destroyed by this parasitic infection have to be cleared from the body by the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Patients experience an enlarged spleen due to the collection of dead red blood cells in the organ. The spleen can become enlarged to the degree that it places pressure on surrounding organs, like the stomach. When there is not enough room in the abdomen for the stomach to expand, the individual loses their appetite or feels full quickly. The kidneys may also fail to remove toxic byproducts from the bloodstream produced by the parasite, which can cause the patient to feel nauseous. Nausea can also cause appetite loss.

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