Warning Signs Of Babesiosis

Appetite Loss

Appetite loss can occur in babesiosis patients due to a combination of different factors. The parasitic invasion of the B microti in the red blood cells causes them to sustain extensive damage to its membrane, inducing apoptosis. When this process reaches a degree where more red blood cells are being destroyed than the patient's body can create, it is referred to as hemolytic anemia. The large amounts of red blood cells destroyed by this parasitic infection have to be cleared from the body by the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Patients experience an enlarged spleen due to the collection of dead red blood cells in the organ. The spleen can become enlarged to the degree that it places pressure on surrounding organs, like the stomach. When there is not enough room in the abdomen for the stomach to expand, the individual loses their appetite or feels full quickly. The kidneys may also fail to remove toxic byproducts from the bloodstream produced by the parasite, which can cause the patient to feel nauseous. Nausea can also cause appetite loss.

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