Chagas disease defined

What is Chagas disease?

Also called American trypanosomiasis (tri-PAN-o-so-MY-a-sis), Chagas disease is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Worldwide, it is estimated that 16 to 18 million people are infected with Chagas disease; of those infected, 50,000 will die each year.

Where is Chagas disease found?

Chagas disease is locally transmitted in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It is sometimes transmitted in the United States.

How is Chagas disease spread?

Triatomine bugs (or "kissing" bugs) live in cracks and holes of substandard housing from the southern United States to southern Argentina . The blood sucking bugs are primarily found in Central and South America and Mexico. Triatomine (sometimes also called reduviid) bugs become infected after biting an animal or person, who is already infected with the parasite. People can become infected with Chagas by

unknowingly touching their eyes, mouth, or open cuts after having come into contact with infective triatome bug feces
bugs directly depositing infected feces in their eyes
eating uncooked food contaminated with triatome bug feces
receiving infection from mother during pregnancy or at birth
receiving an infected blood transfusion or organ transplant

Animals can become infected in the same way, or they might eat an infected bug.

Can Chagas disease cause serious illness?

Yes, Chagas can cause serious illness. Many people get the infection during childhood. Usually, the early stage of infection is not considered severe. However, sometimes the disease can cause death, particularly in infants. For about one-third of the persons who get Chagas disease, chronic symptoms develop 10-20 years after infection. For those who develop chronic symptoms, the average life expectancy decreases by an average of 9 years.

Who is most at risk for Chagas disease?

People who regularly sleep in poorly constructed houses found in the rural areas of Central and South America are most likely to become infected. Houses constructed from mud, adobe, or thatch are more likely than others to be infested with triatomine bugs. Blood transfusion recipients are at risk as well, because blood is not screened for Chagas. Therefore, the disease may be transmitted through transfusions. Travelers planning to stay in hotels, resorts, or other well-constructed housing facilities are not at high risk for getting Chagas disease naturally.

What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?

There are three stages of infection in Chagas disease; each stage has different symptoms. On one extreme, some persons may be infected and never develop symptoms. On the other extreme, in people who have weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, the symptoms of Chagas disease read more