Physician Fails to Diagnose Babesiosis in Patient with History of Lyme Disease

Case Overview

This case involves a female patient who had been diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease a few months before she began suffering from a renewed series of symptoms. She presented to her primary doctor, who had previously treated her for Lyme disease, with complaints of fever and night sweats. The patient immediately suspected that she had Lyme disease once again, but the family practitioner insisted that there was no need for concern. Some time later, the patient presented once again with worsening symptoms. The family practitioner again dismissed her concerns of Lyme disease and suggested that she had developed a minor cold, without ordering any lab studies or blood work. Eventually, the patient presented to a local ER where blood work was ordered and a diagnosis of Babesiosis was made. She was hospitalized for an extended period of time and suffered a host of complications as a result of the delay in treatment.

Questions to the Infectious Disease and Communicable Disease expert and their responses

Do you routinely treat patients with Lyme disease and Babesiosis?

I routinely treat patients for Lyme and Babesiosis. Many patients are sent to me precisely for persistent symptoms.

Have you ever failed to make the diagnosis of either Lyme disease or Babesiosis in a patient with a similar presentation?

I have never failed to make a diagnosis in a similar case. In addition to my clinical practice, I have served in consultation on other cases of missed diagnoses in infectious disease.

About the expert

This highly qualified Infectious Diseases expert received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and subsequently completed Fellowship training at Columbia and Tufts. He is double board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He is a member of multiple professional organizations including the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He has published 15 peer-reviewed journal articles in his field and serves as an Editor and Reviewer for a number of publications.He is frequently invited to lecture as a guest speaker at engagements across the country. He currently holds academic, administrative and clinical positions at some of the most highly regarded medical institutions in New York.

E-009215

Specialties:

Infectious Disease and Communicable Disease