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
Chagas disease is caused by a tiny parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, also called kissing bugs because they bite near the mouth or eyes.
2
The parasite enters the body when an infected bug bites or defecates near the bite wound, mucous membranes, or broken skin.
3
There may be no symptoms or only mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
4
In some cases, the parasite persists in the body for decades without causing any problems. This is known as the chronic phase.
5
In the chronic phase, some people develop serious complications, most commonly affecting the heart & digestive system
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There is no cure for Chagas disease, but there are medications that can be effective in killing the parasites.
7
This can be done by improving housing conditions to eliminate places where the bugs can live and breed, using insecticide-treated bed nets.