Babesiosis: An emerging infectious disease that can affect those who travel to the northeastern United States

SummaryA case is presented of a healthy, 57 year-old male living in Ohio who traveled to Connecticut and later developed a severe case of babesiosis. The patient presented to his primary care physician with a history of intermittent fever and myalgias and was admitted to the hospital for investigation. On admission, he was found to have fever, left flank pain, and thrombocytopenia. The patient had an intact spleen, had no significant medical history, and had not received any blood products previously. During hospitalization, the patient developed pancytopenia and jaundice and became progressively more ill. A serendipitous conversation led to the investigation into babesiosis and empiric treatment. Infection with Babesia microti was confirmed by blood smear and PCR. In conclusion, obtaining a domestic, as well as international, travel history is important for identifying diseases, such as babesiosis, endemic to other areas.