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Health library / CHAGAS DISEASE

CHAGAS DISEASE

  • An inflammatory, infectious disease caused by a parasite found in the feces of the triatomine (reduviid) bug and is most common in South America, Central America and Mexico.
  • Also called as American trypanosomiasis and is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi

Symptoms

  • ACUTE PHASE
  •  Swelling at the infection site
  •  Fever
  •  Fatigue
  •  Rash
  •  Body aches
  •  Eyelid swelling
  •  Headache
  •  Loss of appetite
  •  Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting
  •  Swollen glands
  •  Enlargement of your liver or spleen
  • CHRONIC PHASE
  •  Irregular heartbeat
  •  Congestive heart failure
  •  Sudden cardiac arrest
  •  Difficulty swallowing due to enlarged esophagus
  •  Abdominal pain or constipation due to enlarged colon

Causes

  • Transmitted to humans from a bite from an insect (triatomine bug)
  • Eating uncooked food contaminated with feces from T. Cruzi-infected bugs
  • Being born to a woman infected with T. Cruzi
  • Having a blood transfusion containing infected blood
  • Getting an organ transplant containing viable T. Cruzi
  • Working in a laboratory where there’s an accidental exposure to the parasite
  • Spending time in a forest that contains infected wild animals, such as raccoons and opossums
  • Being around an infected pet

Risk Factors

  • Living in impoverished rural areas of Central America, South America and Mexico
  • Living in a residence that contains triatomine bugs
  • Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant from a person who carries the infection”
  • Diagnostic Tests
  • Observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Chest X-ray
  • Echocardiogram
  • Abdominal X-ray
  • Upper endoscopy
  • Treatments
  • A pacemaker to regulate your heart rhythm (Heart-related complications)
  • Diet modification, medications, corticosteroids (Digestive-related complications)
  • Medications
  • Benznidazole and nifurtimox
  • Lifestyle Management
  • Avoid sleeping in a mud, thatch or adobe house.
  • Use insecticide-soaked netting over your bed when sleeping in thatch, mud or adobe houses.
  • Use insecticides to remove insects from your residence.
  • Use insect repellent on exposed skin
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