What is Chagas Disease?

About Chagas Disease:

• It is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
• Transmission:
  • It is transmitted to humans through the bite of the infected triatomine bugs, also known as "kissing bugs", which feed on blood and are active mostly at night. 
  • It can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplantation, congenital transmission from mother to child, and the consumption of contaminated food or beverages.
• As per WHO statistics, there are approximately 6-7 million people infected with Chagas disease worldwide, mostly in Latin America, with 10,000 deaths every year. 
• Chagas disease progresses through two main stages: acute and chronic.
  • The acute stage typically occurs shortly after infection and may exhibit mild or no symptoms at all, making it difficult to diagnose.
  • Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, vomiting, and swelling at the site of infection (chagoma).
  • If left untreated, the infection progresses to the chronic stage, which can manifest years or even decades after the initial infection.
  • It can lead to severe complications, including cardiac issues such as cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, heart failure and gastrointestinal problems.
• It is often referred to as "silent and silenced disease" as the infected majority have no symptoms or extremely mild symptoms. There are no vaccines or medicines to prevent Chagas disease.
• Treatment:
  • Treatment for Chagas disease includes antiparasitic medications, such as benznidazole.