What is Chagas disease? Also called American
trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease is an infection caused by
the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagas disease primarily
affects low income people living in rural areas. It is
estimated that 16-18 million people are infected with
Chagas disease; of those infected, 50,000 will die each
year. Chagas disease is locally transmitted in Argentina,
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

How do I get it? Small critters called
“kissing bugs” that live in cracks and holes of
substandard housing primarily found in South and Central
America. Insects become infected after biting an animal or
person who already has Chagas disease. Infection is spread
to humans when an infected bug deposits feces on a person’s
skin, usually while the person is sleeping at night. The
person often accidently rubs the feces into the bite wound,
an open cut, the eyes, or mouth.

How do I know if I have it? There are three
stages of infection with Chagas disease; each stage has
different symptoms. Some people may be infected and never
develop symptoms. Acute symptoms only occur in about 1% of
cases and most people infected do not seek medical
attention. The most recognized symptom of acute Chagas
infection is the Romaña’s sign, or swelling of the eye on
one side of the face, usually at the bite wound or where
feces were rubbed into the eye. Other symptoms are usually
not specific for Chagas infection. These symptoms may
include fatigue, fever, enlarged liver or spleen, and
swollen lymph glands. Sometimes, a rash, loss of appetite,
diarrhea, and vomiting occur. In infants and in very young
children with acute Chagas disease, swelling of the brain
can develop in acute Chagas disease, and this can cause
death. In general, symptoms last for 4-8 weeks and then
they go away, even without treatment.

What should I do if I have Chagas disease? See
your doctor for a blood tests to determine whether there
are parasite or antibodies in your blood. Medication for
Chagas disease is usually effective when given during the
acute stage of infection. Once the disease has progressed
to later stages, medication may be less effective. In the
chronic stage, treatment involves managing symptoms
associated with the disease.

How can I prevent Chagas disease? Avoid sleeping
in thatch, mud, or adobe houses, and use insecticides to
kill insects and reduce the risk of transmission. There is
neither a vaccine nor recommended drug available to prevent
Chagas disease.