How do humans get Chagas disease?

How do humans get Chagas disease?

Chagas disease can be transmitted in five different ways: by a vector (through the faeces of an insect), through vertical or congenital transmission (from mother to her child during pregnancy), by way of blood transfusions or organ transplants, by ingesting contaminated food or drinks, or because of laboratory …

How do you get T. cruzi?

It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma 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). Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis.

How do you get kissing bugs?

Kissing bugs get infected from feeding on infected wild animals, dogs, and people. In the US, wild animals that can carry the T. cruzi parasite are woodrats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, and other mammals. Birds and reptiles cannot be infected with Chagas disease, but kissing bugs can feed on their blood.

Do all kissing bugs carry Chagas disease?

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.

Does Chagas disease go away?

Signs and symptoms that develop during the acute phase usually go away on their own. In some cases, if the infection isn’t treated, Chagas disease will advance to the chronic phase.

Can Chagas be prevented?

In areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America, where the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is present in triatomine bugs, improved housing and spraying insecticide inside housing to eliminate the bugs has significantly decreased the spread of Chagas disease.

How bad is 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.

Is Chagas curable?

Today Chagas disease is treatable. Therapy is highly effective if given during the acute phase of the disease and less effective when administered during the chronic phase. This is why early diagnosis is so important.

Do stink bugs carry disease?

They do not bite people or pets and they are not known to transmit disease or cause physical harm. However, some people may be sensitive to allergens given off by the stink bugs.

Can assassin bugs give you a disease?

Yes. However, the transmission of the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite from a bug to a human is not easy. The parasite that causes the disease is in the bug feces. The bug generally poops on or near a person while it is feeding on her blood, usually when the person is sleeping.

Is Chagas disease serious?

It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening.

How do people get infected with Chagas’ disease?

People can become infected in several ways. In areas where Chagas disease is common, the main way is through vectorborne transmission. The insect vectors are called triatomine bugs. These blood-sucking bugs get infected with T. cruzi by biting an infected animal or person.

Is Chagas disease the ‘new AIDS’?

Chagas disease, caused by parasites transmitted to humans by blood-sucking insects, has been named “the new AIDS of the Americas” in a lengthy editorial published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

How deadly is Chagas disease?

Once infected, Chagas disease (also known as American trypanosomiasis) can go undetected for years, or even decades, during which time it can cause damage to the heart, intestines and esophagus . Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias caused by the damage can eventually prove fatal. In some cases, a Chagas-enlarged heart or intestines can actually explode.

What causes Chagas disease?

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is spread by the bite of reduviid bugs, or kissing bugs, and is one of the major health problems in South America.