| CaliforniaLyme 2005-08-26, 11:48 am |
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http://examiner.gmnews.com/news/200...t_page/005.html
August 25, 2005
Family speaks out about battle against babesiosis
Millstoner contracts first case in 2005 of rare disease caused by tick
MILLSTONE - Ed Miller, 86, recounted his bout with babesiosis as "two
weeks
in hell."
Babesiosis is a rare illness caused by a parasite that lives in some
ticks.
Deer ticks carry the parasite that causes this disease.
On July 1, Miller, who has lived with his wife, Elaine, in Millstone
for the
past 38 years, became ill with what doctors at CentraState Medical
Center in
Freehold Township would later determine to be the first case of
babesiosis
they would treat in 2005.
"I knew something was wrong because he reads two newspapers a day, and
that
day he didn't read any," Elaine said.
Feeling weak and fearing the worst, Ed, who has an extensive medical
history
including artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes and
bladder
cancer, told his wife to take him to the hospital. That would be the
last
thing he remembered for the next 14 days.
"I remember it was my decision to go to the hospital," Ed said, "and I
hate
having to go the hospital."
Elaine said, "When we got to the hospital, the nurse at CentraState
took his
pulse and it was racing," Elaine said. "It was in the 160s."
Elaine is a nurse at CentraState, and Ed is a retired research
physician.
She said she knew the doctors had to get her husband's heart rate under
control. She also remembers Ed's blood pressure dropping really low.
"At first, the emergency-room doctor told us that the lab tests were
inconclusive," Elaine said.
The first night of what would turn into a 21-day hospital stay was the
worst, according to Elaine.
"During the night, his temperature spiked, and he had cold sweats,"
Elaine
said. "His blood pressure continued to drop, and there were signs
something
horrible was going on."
Elaine, who was worried that her husband wouldn't make it through the
night,
said she thought nothing of the doctor asking her if her husband had
recently traveled to Africa.
She said her husband's symptoms were similar to malaria.
"He didn't have an appetite, and he was confused," Elaine said. "His
fever
went up and down. He ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU) because
the
babesiosis compromised his renal area, but because his blood pressure
was so
high, they couldn't put him on dialysis."
Ed's was a rare case, Elaine said, in that the babesiosis kicked all of
his
pre-existing medical conditions into disarray, causing many other
complications besides the usual effects the disease has.
"It was intense," Elaine said. "Everyone in the family came back from
vacation to be with him."
According to research compiled by Robin Segal, CentraState's medical
librarian, symptoms of babesiosis include fever that can be as high as
104
degrees Fahrenheit, chills, sweating, weakness, tiredness, headaches
and a
poor appetite. Some people with the illness may not have symptoms.
However,
sometimes the illness quickly becomes serious and can even cause death.
Babesiosis can affect individuals of all ages, but most people who get
it
are in their 40s or 50s.
CentraState's Dr. Leslie Sojka and internist Alfred DeLuca told Elaine
that
the body they found on Ed's red blood cell - which looked like a speck
of
pepper - was a parasite caused by a deer tick.
"We live in the woods," Elaine said. "My husband has been bitten by
ticks
many times and has had Lyme disease, but it had never been like this."
Babesiosis infections have been reported in many parts of the U.S. The
disease was first recognized in humans in 1969 on Nantucket Island,
Mass.,
but it has now been recognized throughout the Northeast and in a few
other
parts of the country. The areas where babesiosis has been reported most
often are Connecticut and on the islands off Massachusetts and New
York,
according to CentraState.
Last year, there were six cases of babesiosis treated at CentraState.
According to the hospital, Ed's is the first case treated there this
year.
Once the doctors identified Ed's illness as babesiosis, Elaine said,
"The
process started."
The doctors used two antibiotics to treat the illness. In Ed's case,
however, he needed a team of specialists to ensure that his other
already
compromised internal systems would not fail, according to Elaine.
"He needed a blood transfusion because the parasite was eating away his
red
blood cells," Elaine said, "but because of his congestive heart
failure, he
couldn't receive one."
Elaine said Ed underwent total system care.
"The doctors at CentraState really pulled him out of this," Elaine
said. "He
had a renal team, a cardiac group watching his heart and a urologist
because
he was experiencing terrible bladder spasms."
"I have no memory of any of this," Ed said. "I don't even have a
recollection of who came to the hospital to see me at that time."
During the eighth day of his stay in the ICU, Elaine said she felt as
if he
was "running out of time."
"It was just one thing after another, and as far as his kidneys were
concerned, I just didn't think we had any more time," Elaine said.
It wasn't until four days later that Ed received blood and was able to
leave
the ICU.
"Then," Elaine said, "he went into rehab and came home on July 22.
"We are so grateful for the support we got from the staff at
CentraState,"
she said. "It was doctoring the way it should be."
"I received excellent care at the hospital," Ed said.
The babesiosis and/or complications that arose from it caused Ed to
have
difficulty with his speech and expression, Elaine said.
"He was experiencing aphasia, which means that he knows what he wants
to
say, but just can't grab the right words," Elaine said. "Although this
could
have been the result of a minor stroke or an effect of something else
that
was going on with him, the aphasia was at its peak with the
babesiosis."
According to the CentraState library, complications from babesiosis can
be
worse if a person has had an organ transplant or his or her spleen
removed,
or has HIV infection, AIDS or other problems relating to the immune
system.
Despite his pre-existing medical conditions, Elaine said, Ed is "slowly
getting back into shape" after his bout with babesiosis.
"We're very lucky that he pulled through," Elaine said. "He's fine now,
and
he doesn't remember how bad it was."
Ed said, "I know they almost lost me."
The experience was so traumatizing to Ed, Elaine and their family that
the
couple decided to speak about what happened.
"We want people to know," Ed said, "because people with this disease
need to
start treatment immediately."
Elaine said, "Living in Millstone, in this rural area, there are a lot
of
ticks. While I was in the hospital with Ed, I showed the nurses that I
had
two walking on me."
The Millers want area residents to protect themselves and their loved
ones
from harmful tick bites.
According to research compiled by the CentraState library, tick season
is at
its peak from May through September.
To prevent babesiosis, people should use insect repellent when
outdoors,
especially in wooded or grassy places. Products with 10 to 35 percent
DEET
provide good protection under most conditions, according to
CentraState.
CentraState recommends making yards less attractive to ticks by mowing
the
lawn and pruning trees. While in the yard, individuals should wear
solid,
light-colored clothing, with their pants tucked into their socks.
Early detection and removal of ticks is important, as a tick must be
attached to the body for at least 24 hours before it can pass on the
parasite that causes babesiosis, according to CentraState.
To remove a tick, CentraState suggests using fine-point tweezers,
grasping
the tick's mouth close to the skin and applying steady outward
pressure. It
is also important not to use petroleum jelly, noxious chemicals or hot
objects to remove a tick because removal can increase the chances of
infection, according to CentraState.
People who live outdoors or spend a lot of time outside should check
themselves and their with family members, as well as their pets, every
day,
according to CentraState. If a tick is found, it should be removed but
saved
to show the doctor just in case babesiosis develops.
Symptoms of babesiosis can take anywhere from one to 12 months to
develop
after a tick bite, and a shorter time for those who have weakened
immune
systems. Infected individuals cannot spread the disease to others,
according
to CentraState.
- Jennifer Kohlhepp
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