Where is Chagas most prevalent?

Chagas disease is common in parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America where an estimated 8 million people are infected.

Where is Chagas disease most prevalent?

People who have Chagas disease can be found anywhere in the world. However, transmission of the disease by kissing bugs (vectorborne transmission), only occurs in the Americas. Most people with Chagas disease became infected in rural areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Is Chagas disease found in the United States?

Chagas disease is a life-threatening parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). It is endemic through much of the Americas, from the southern United States to Argentina and Chile.

What states is the kissing bug found in?

Most of the world's kissing bugs are in Central and South America and Mexico. They've also been found in the United States in the lower 28 states, with higher concentrations in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Kissing bugs have been spotted a far north as Delaware, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

What states have Chagas?

Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are the states with the most different species and most findings of kissing bugs. Scientists have found that about 50% of kissing bugs are infected with the Chagas parasite. Kissing bugs are a 'vector' because they can carry a parasite that can make people and animal sick.

Chagas Disease - An overview

Can you survive Chagas disease?

Many people may remain asymptomatic for life and never develop Chagas-related symptoms. However, an estimated 20–30% of infected people will develop severe and sometimes life-threatening medical problems over the course of their lives.

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.

Should I be worried about Chagas disease?

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.

Should I be worried about kissing bugs?

The Bottom Line. Kissing bugs can transmit a parasite that leads to a potentially serious illness called Chagas disease. Most cases of Chagas disease occur in Latin America. Although infection directly from exposure to the kissing bug is rare in the US, it is still important to take steps to prevent kissing bug bites.

What keeps kissing bugs away?

Sealing cracks and gaps around windows, walls, roofs, and doors. Removing wood, brush, and rock piles near your house. Using screens on doors and windows and repairing any holes or tears. If possible, making sure yard lights are not close to your house (lights can attract the bugs)

How are people in the US at risk for Chagas?

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.

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.

How many Americans have Chagas disease?

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. It is estimated that around 70 million people in the Americas live in areas of exposure and are at risk of contracting this disease.

Can I get Chagas from my dog?

Does Chagas disease affect humans? Chagas disease can affect humans if they encounter infected insects. However, there have not been any reported cases of dog-to-insect-to-human transmission of Chagas disease within the United States.

What kills Chagas bugs?

How do you know if you've been bitten by a kissing bug?

Kissing bugs can cause patches of bites, often around the mouth. The bites are usually painless, but they may swell and look like hives. Itching from the bites may last a week.

Should I call an exterminator for kissing bugs?

Kissing bugs are a serious problem. If you see one, you need to call a professional pest control company immediately. These pests are often infected with a parasite that can cause humans or the animals they come in contact with to get sick.

Can ivermectin cure Chagas disease?

Ivermectin and Chagas disease

To our knowledge, a connection between ivermectin and T. cruzi has never been described in the literature (in neither animal reservoirs nor humans). 1 17 To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no evidence that would justify CD treatment with ivermectin.

Why is Chagas a silent disease?

Chagas disease is prevalent among poor populations of continental Latin America but is increasingly being detected in other countries and continents. It is often termed as a “silent and silenced disease” as the infected majority have no symptoms or extremely mild symptom.

When should you get tested for Chagas?

Indications for Testing

Laboratory testing for Chagas disease is indicated in individuals who are at risk when clinical findings point to acute- or chronic-phase infection.

When is kissing bug season?

In Arizona, kissing bugs are often associated with pack rats, as they take up residence in pack rat nests and feed on their blood. But they also feed opportunistically on dogs, livestock and humans. Rising temperatures in Arizona's late spring and early summer correlate with an increase in kissing bug bites.

Can you survive a kissing bug?

Most bites are harmless. Sometimes, though, they can cause allergic reactions or spread disease. Very rarely, they can lead to heart disease or sudden death.

What is the cure rate for Chagas?

To kill the parasite, Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole or nifurtimox. Both medicines are nearly 100% effective in curing the disease if given soon after infection at the onset of the acute phase, including the cases of congenital transmission.

Why do we still have not a vaccine against Chagas disease?

Undoubtedly, most vaccination attempts yielded attenuated infections. However, attenuation does not equate with a cure, and we still do not have a sound diagnostic method for “cure” in Chagas disease, not only for asymptomatic human cases and for vaccinated animals but also for the testing of drugs.

Do blood banks test for Chagas?

Yes. In the United States, donors are tested once and if the result of their test is negative for T. cruzi infection, they will not be tested when they donate again at that blood bank.