All You Need to Know About Chagas Disease

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Chagas disease, transmitted by kissing bugs, can cause heart and digestive issues decades after infection. Here are some things t o know about it.

1

Caused by a Parasite

Chagas disease is caused by a tiny parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, also called kissing bugs because they bite near the mouth or eyes.

2

Transmission

The parasite enters the body when an infected bug bites or defecates near the bite wound, mucous membranes, or broken skin.

3

Acute Phase

There may be no symptoms or only mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

4

Chronic Phase

In some cases, the parasite persists in the body for decades without causing any problems. This is known as the chronic phase.

5

Long-Term Complications

In the chronic phase, some people develop serious complications, most commonly affecting the heart & digestive system

6

Treatment

There is no cure for Chagas disease, but there are medications that can be effective in killing the parasites.

7

Prevention

This can be done by improving housing conditions to eliminate places where the bugs can live and breed, using insecticide-treated bed nets.