What is an interesting fact about Chagas disease?

Chagas disease is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who discovered the disease in 1909. It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma

Trypanosoma

Parasites - African Trypanosomiasis (also known as Sleeping Sickness) Related Pages. African Trypanosomiasis, also known as “sleeping sickness”, is caused by microscopic parasites of the species Trypanosoma brucei. It is transmitted by the tsetse fly (Glossina species), which is found only in sub-Saharan Africa.

https://www.cdc.gov › parasites › sleepingsickness

African Trypanosomiasis - CDC

cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors and is found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread).

Why is Chagas disease important?

Also called American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease can infect anyone. Left untreated, Chagas disease later can cause serious heart and digestive problems. During the acute phase of infection, treatment of Chagas disease focuses on killing the parasite.

How rare is Chagas disease?

Chagas disease is endemic in 21 countries in the Americas, and affects approximately 6 million people. In the Americas, Chagas disease show an annual incidence of 30,000 new cases average, 12,000 deaths per year, and 8,600 newborns become infected during gestation.

Why is Chagas disease called the kissing bug?

During the day, the bugs hide in crevices in the walls and roofs. During the night, when the inhabitants are sleeping, the bugs emerge. Because they tend to bite people's faces, triatomine bugs are also known as “kissing bugs”. After they bite and ingest blood, they defecate (poop) on the person.

Where was Chagas first discovered?

Based on the paleoparasitological data, it has been hypothesised that Chagas disease originated in the Andean region [32].

Chagas Disease - An overview

What is the common name for Chagas?

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. About 6–7 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with T. cruzi.

Can Chagas cause death?

Chagas disease causes approximately 10,000 deaths per year globally. Up to 30% of infected people develop symptoms. Chagas disease can cause: Stroke.

How long do kissing bugs live?

The life span of kissing bugs in North America is approximately a year, perhaps longer for the large southern species, Triatoma recurva. In the temperate zone, there is usually one generation per year, whereas in Mesoamerica and parts of tropical South America, several generations of bugs may occur within a year.

Is Chagas disease an STD?

Conclusions: Evidence that Chagas disease can be transmitted sexually, coupled with the migration of individuals with Chagas disease to previously non-endemic countries and increased travel to endemic countries, has implications for public health.

Does Chagas disease have a vaccine?

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent Chagas disease and chemotherapy is the only alternative for curing infected individuals.

How long can you live with Chagas?

If untreated, infection is lifelong. Acute Chagas disease occurs immediately after infection, and can last up to a few weeks or months. During the acute phase, parasites may be found in the circulating blood.

Does Chagas affect the brain?

The involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) during human acute and chronic Chagas disease (CD) has been largely reported. Meningoencephalitis is a frequent finding during the acute infection, while during chronic phase the CNS involvement is often accompanied by behavioral and cognitive impairments.

Who is most likely to get Chagas disease?

Chagas disease is a disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. You're most at risk for Chagas disease if you have visited or traveled in rural Central or South America or been exposed to the blood products, or received organs, from someone infected with Chagas disease.

How does Chagas disease spread?

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection is most commonly spread through contact with the poop of an infected triatomine bug (or “kissing bug”), a blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans and animals.

Does Chagas disease go away on its own?

Chagas disease is curable if treated soon after infection. Unfortunately, most infected people are unaware of their infection until it's too late, and they present with complications of chronic heart or bowel problems.

What does Chagas disease target?

Clinical course

Chronic infections are asymptomatic in two thirds of the human population. Chronic Chagas disease affects mostly the heart and the digestive tract. Arrhythmias and congestive heart failure are ominous signs of the disease. Megaoesophagus and megacolon cause dysphagia and constipation, respectively.

Is Chagas easily diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Chagas disease can be made by observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination. A thick and thin blood smear are made and stained for visualization of parasites.

Do all kissing bugs carry Chagas?

Kissing bugs can carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which can cause Chagas disease. It's important to know that not all kissing bugs are infected with the parasite, and the likelihood of contracting Chagas disease is low.

Are there kissing bugs in Canada?

Where kissing bugs are found. Kissing bugs are found in warm southern states of the U.S. and in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Can kissing bugs survive winter?

Their northern limit of distribution is likely determined by their intolerance to survive prolonged cold temperatures but reports from Utah and Colorado have shown these insects can be hardy.

Are there assassin bugs in Canada?

Although commonly found in the Southern States and warmer regions, the assassin bug is no stranger to Canada due to recent climate changes.

What does Chagas do to the heart?

Chagas cardiomyopathy represents the most frequent and serious complication of chronic Chagas disease, affecting about 20-30% of patients, potentially leading to heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolism, stroke and sudden death.

Where does the kissing bug live?

Where are triatomine bugs typically found? Triatomine bugs (also called “kissing bugs”, cone-nosed bugs, and blood suckers) can live indoors, in cracks and holes of substandard housing, or in a variety of outdoor settings including the following: Beneath porches. Between rocky structures.

Is Chagas disease permanent?

Once Chagas disease reaches the chronic phase, medications won't cure the disease.

How can Chagas disease be prevented?

Sleep under a bed net treated with insecticide if you must sleep outdoors. Practise safe food and water precautions. Avoid getting blood transfusions and organ transplants in areas where Chagas disease is found.