Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Two Imported Cases of Babesiosis with Complication or Co-Infection with Lyme Disease in Republic of Korea

  • Kwon, Hea Yoon (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Im, Jae Hyoung (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Yun-Kyu (Department of Emergency Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Durey, Areum (Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Jin-Soo (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Baek, Ji Hyeon (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2018.08.13
  • Accepted : 2018.10.14
  • Published : 2018.12.31
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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.

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