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. In people who have chronic Chagas disease, it's no longer possible to kill the parasite. Treatment in this later phase is about managing signs and symptoms. You can also take steps to prevent infection. Chagas disease can cause a sudden, brief illness acute , or it may be a long-lasting chronic condition.
Symptoms range from mild to severe, although many people don't experience symptoms until the chronic stage. The acute phase of Chagas disease, which lasts for weeks or months, is often symptom-free. When signs and symptoms do occur, they are usually mild and may include:. 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. Signs and symptoms of the chronic phase of Chagas disease may occur 10 to 20 years after initial infection, or they may never occur.
In severe cases, Chagas disease signs and symptoms may include:. See your doctor if you live in or have traveled to an area where Chagas disease is widespread and you have signs and symptoms of the condition. Symptoms may include swelling at the infection site, fever, fatigue, body aches, rash and nausea. The cause of Chagas disease is the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is spread from an insect known as the triatomine bug, or "kissing bug. Our research helps us learn more about how to protect people and animals from Chagas disease.
Kissing bugs feed on blood and are active mostly at night nocturnal. Kissing bugs hatch from small eggs and go through five juvenile nymphal stages before they become adults.
Some kinds of kissing bugs can live up to two years. All kissing bugs feed on blood throughout their lives. Kissing bugs can feed on people, dogs, and wild animals.
They feed many times over their lives. When kissing bugs feed, they can take several minutes to take a full meal. Kissing bugs do NOT attach like ticks. Kissing bug bites do not usually hurt the person while they are feeding. In the United States, kissing bugs have been found in 29 states. All shaded states in the map have at least one kissing bug found there.
Striped states are those from which we have received submissions to our Community Science Program. In some states, kissing bugs have only been found a few times and are probably rare.
Eleven different kinds of kissing bugs are in the United States. Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are the states with the most different species and most findings of kissing bugs. Kissing bugs are a 'vector' because they can carry a parasite that can make people and animal sick. The parasite is Trypanosoma cruzi , and it causes Chagas disease.
The number of infected kissing bugs varies from location to location. A parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease. Chagas disease can occur in people, dogs, and other mammals. The Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is sometimes called T.
Kissing bugs can get the T. Then kissing bugs carry the T. The parasite is in the feces of the kissing bug. The parasite is NOT in the saliva or bite of the kissing bug. If kissing bug feces enters someone's body, the parasite can infect the person and cause Chagas disease.
Some kinds of kissing bugs poop while they are feeding; if a person scratches the kissing bug feces into the bite then the person may get sick. The parasite can also enter the body through the mouth or eye if someone touches their mouth or eye with a dirty hand.
Dogs can become infected by eating kissing bugs. Some kissing bugs in Central America and South America are more likely to be in houses and pass the T. Sometimes a mother with Chagas disease can pass the disease to her baby while she is pregnant.
The parasite can be passed through blood and organ donations, and sometimes through food or drink contaminated with kissing bug feces. No one knows exactly how many people in the United States have Chagas disease. Scientists think that in the United States there are at least , cases of Chagas disease in people, and there may be more than 1 million cases. Most states are not required to keep track of the number of people with Chagas disease.
Travelers should observe food and beverage precautions and avoid consuming salads, uncooked vegetables, unpeeled fruits, and unpasteurized fruit juices. This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a healthcare provider.
If you have any questions about the parasites described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a healthcare provider. Contact Us. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis also known as Chagas Disease. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Detailed FAQs. Minus Related Pages. If I have Chagas disease, should my family members be tested for the infection? In what parts of the world is Chagas disease found?
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