Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis)
26 enero, 2026 2026-01-26 19:06Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis)
Salvando Latidos 
Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis)
What causes Chagas disease?
Chagas disease (also known as American trypanosomiasis) is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi
How is Chagas disease spread?
The most common way to get infected is through the bite of an infected triatomine bug. This bug is sometimes referred to as a:
- Kissing bug (because it can bite you around the mouth)
- Reduviid bug
- Assassin bug
- Pik
- Vinchuca
When an infected bug bites a person (usually at night), it leaves its feces close to the bite. When you touch the bite, you can accidentally rub the feces into the bite, a scratch, an open wound, your eyes, nose or mouth and if the feces are from an infected triatomine bug, you will be exposed to the disease.
In rare cases, Chagas disease can also be spread:
- Through contaminated:
– Blood products (transfusion), Organ transplants
- From an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy and delivery
- Through food or drinks that are contaminated with infected triatomine feces
- Accidental exposure to contaminated blood through needle prick and other surgical instruments
Symptoms of Chagas disease
You may begin to notice your first symptoms one or more weeks after being bitten by an infected triatomine bug. These symptoms are often mild and can last up to two months, and in some cases, you may not experience any symptoms at all. Although, Chagas disease can be fatal.
Primary symptoms may include:
- Swelling around the infected bite
- Swollen eyelids
- Fever
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Muscle pain
- Difficulty breathing
Once infected, if you are not treated, you will remain infected for years after you experience the primary symptoms. Sometimes, serious life-threatening symptoms appear 10 to 30 years later, these symptoms may include:
- Heart failure
- Abnormal heart beat
- Gastrointestinal disorders
What to Do if You Are Bitten by an infected triatomine bug?
- Go to the nearest health center, where you can receive appropriate testing, diagnosis, and timely treatment.
- If possible, place the insect in a container and take it with you so it can be identified as a triatomine bug.
- Do not apply any medication or home remedy to the bite area; a healthcare professional will tell you if treatment is needed.
- Check whether other people in your household have similar bites or symptoms so they can also be tested.
- Remember that Chagas disease can only be diagnosed through specific tests performed by trained health personnel. Visit your nearest health center for evaluation.
- If you have questions or need support, contact us.
Characteristics of the Kissing Bug (triatomine bug)
- Straight, very thin snout
- Legs do not have red spots
- Adults may have an orange‑and‑black body
How is Chagas disease diagnosed?
Talk to a health care provider as soon as possible if you:
- Have symptoms
- Feel sick in the weeks after being bitten
Your health care provider will likely:
- Examine your symptoms
- Determine if you were potentially exposed to infected triatomine bugs by asking about your:
- Travel history
- Activities
- Accommodations
- Request laboratory testing, if necessary
How is Chagas disease treated?
It is important to treat the disease immediately, as treatment at this stage focuses on controlling the parasites, improving symptoms, and helping prevent progression to the chronic phase of the illness. A health care provider can prescribe medications to treat Chagas disease.
If left untreated, late-stage medical problems caused by the disease cannot be fully cured and the treatment focuses on managing complications, particularly Chagas cardiomyopathy.
In this stage, treatment aims to control symptoms and improve quality of life, as there is currently no curative therapy for chronic Chagas disease.
