She wasn’t immunocompromised. So why was she still sick months after Lyme treatment?
That was the question we kept coming back to.

She’d been told Babesia wouldn’t be a problem—unless she had a weakened immune system. She didn’t. But she was still dealing with fatigue, air hunger, night sweats, and brain fog long after her Lyme disease treatment ended.

And that’s when we looked closer.

Babesia Doesn’t Always Play by the Rules

There’s a long-standing myth in medicine: Babesia only causes significant symptoms in people with compromised immune systems. But the clinical reality is much more complicated.

Symptomatic Babesia infections can—and do—occur in immunocompetent patients.

In this case, my patient had gone untreated for months. When she finally received Babesia-specific therapy—a combination of atovaquone and azithromycin—her symptoms began to lift. Her progress was slow but steady, and for the first time in months, she started to feel like herself again.

What Babesia Looks Like in Real Life

Babesia is a malaria-like parasite that invades red blood cells. It’s transmitted by the same tick that spreads Lyme disease and is often overlooked unless classic symptoms are present. But those symptoms can be subtle or misattributed—especially in patients already being treated for Lyme disease.

Some common Babesia signs include:

1. Drenching night sweats
2. Shortness of breath (air hunger)
3. Persistent fatigue
4. Dizziness or feeling “off”
5. Brain fog and poor concentration
6. Mood changes or panic-like sensations

When Lyme treatment fails or stalls, co-infections like Babesia must be on the radar. Dismissing them based on immune status alone can delay healing.

The Bottom Line

My patient’s turning point came when we challenged a flawed assumption: That Babesia couldn’t be causing her problems.
It could—and it was.

Babesia doesn’t just affect the immunocompromised. It affects people who are otherwise healthy, and it can prolong suffering if left untreated.