‘Kissing Bug’ Epidemic In US: What You Need To Know About Chagas Disease, Is it Contagious?

US Health officials have declared Chagas disease, a potentially deadly infection spread by the ‘kissing bugs’, an epidemic. These bugs have been found in 32 states, and at least eight Americans have caught the disease from local transmission. This has led scientists to urge the CDC and the WHO to officially declare the illness as endemic in the U.S., which means it's a disease that is naturally present in the region. Experts believe that over 300,000 people in the U.S. may have Chagas disease, but very few of them know it. What Is Chagas Disease? According to UCLA Health, Chagas disease, a potentially life-threatening condition, is most commonly spread by the “kissing bug,” which gets its name because it tends to bite people on the face while they sleep. After biting, the bug defecates on the skin, leaving behind a parasite called T. cruzi. When the person scratches the itchy bite, they accidentally rub the parasite into the wound, and that's how it enters the bloodstream. Chagas disease can also be passed from a pregnant person to their baby, through organ transplants and blood transfusions, or by eating uncooked food that has been contaminated with the parasite. Is Chagas Disease Contagious? No, the Cleveland Clinic explains that this disease cannot spread from person to person. Many people with Chagas disease have no symptoms at all, which is why it's often called a "silent disease." In the early stage, which lasts about two months, some people might experience a swollen eyelid, fever, or body aches, but these symptoms are easily mistaken for other common illnesses. Over a person’s lifetime, about 20% of those infected will develop serious, long-term problems, most often affecting the heart. Chagas disease can slowly damage the heart, leading to an enlarged heart, heart failure, or even a heart attack. It can also cause digestive problems, like an enlarged colon. What Are Signs And Symptoms of Chagas Disease?According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Chagas disease happens in two main stages. For most people, the first stage goes unnoticed, but it can lead to very serious problems later on. The First Stage This early phase lasts for about two months after a person is infected. Most people have no symptoms at all, or they experience mild, general symptoms that could be caused by anything else, such as a fever, headache, muscle pain, or swelling. In rare cases, a person might see a specific sign, like a skin sore where they were bitten, or a purple swelling of one eyelid. The Second Stage The second stage of the disease can last for a person's entire life. During this time, the parasites hide mainly in the heart and muscles of the digestive system. About 10 to 30 years after being infected, up to a third of people will develop serious heart problems, and up to 1 in 10 will have digestive issues, such as an enlarged food pipe or colon. Over time, this can lead to an irregular heartbeat, slow heart failure, and in some cases, sudden death. How To Treat Chagas Disease? Anti-parasite medications are only effective at treating Chagas disease during its very early stage. Once the disease has been in the body for a while, there is no cure, though symptoms of heart failure can be managed with medication or even a heart transplant. Doctors recommend that anyone who is from or has traveled to Latin America and begins to experience heart problems should be tested for Chagas disease. It's also worth noting that the U.S. blood supply has been tested for Chagas since 2007. How Can We Prevent Chagas Disease? WHO explains that because Chagas disease is carried by "kissing bugs" and is so widespread among wild animals throughout the Americas, it's not possible to completely wipe it out. Instead, public health efforts are focused on stopping the disease from spreading to humans, making sure infected people get diagnosed early, and providing them with lifelong medical care. To prevent the spread of Chagas disease, health organizations recommend a few key approaches: Controlling the bugs This is considered the most effective way to prevent the disease. It includes spraying homes and surrounding areas with bug-killing chemicals and making sure houses are built and kept clean to prevent the insects from living in cracks in the walls. Personal protection People can protect themselves with personal measures like using bed nets and practicing good hygiene when handling food. Screening donors Screening blood donors is necessary to prevent the disease from spreading through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Checking newborns It is also important to test newborns and other children of infected mothers, as the disease can be passed during pregnancy.

‘Kissing Bug’ Epidemic In US: What You Need To Know About Chagas Disease, Is it Contagious?

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