Treatment of Babesiosis – pro
Antibiotic and antimalarial therapy should begin immediately after diagnosis in symptomatic patients to reduce the level of babesiosis parasitemia. The standard treatment has been clindamycin and quinine, but this regimen occasionally fails and patients report frequent side effects including tinnitus, decreased hearing, and diarrhea. A drug regimen consisting of atovaquone and azithromycin has been shown to be effective and guidelines recommend either one of these two combinations. With the former patients experience much fewer side effects, typically diarrhea and rash. Parasitemia may persist despite treatment with either of the described drug regimens. In areas endemic for Lyme disease, physicians should consider treating for Lyme disease empirically.
Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2004;2(1 Suppl):S1-13. [66 references]
Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED, Halperin JJ, Steere AC, Klempner MS, Krause PJ, Bakken JS, Strle F, Stanek G, Bockenstedt L, Fish D, Dumler JS, Nadelman RB. The clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention of lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis 2006 Nov 1;43(9):1089-134.