Babesiosis in a Connecticut resident

Fewer than 200 confirmed cases of babesiosis have been reported in the last decade. Most cases in the United States have occurred on Cape Cod, Nantucket Island, and Long Island. Babesia microti, a malaria-like protozoan that parasitizes erythrocytes, is responsible for this illness in the United States. Infection is often subclinical but may be fulminant, especially in infants, the elderly, and in asplenic patients. Symptoms are nonspecific, usually consisting of fever and myalgias. Common laboratory abnormalities include evidence of hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. We report a case of babesiosis in an elderly male manifested by high fevers, confusion, hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia.