Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by a group of parasite called, Trypanosome cruzi and is most often spread by Triatomine bugs. It was discovered by Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, in 1909. There are 6-7 million people infected with this disease, and 10,000 deaths a year.
It is frequently found in people, dogs, cats, and wild animals in Central and South America, especially in farm lands where poverty prevails. Deforestation for agriculture, mining, and urbanisation purposes seems to be the biggest cause for people to be in contact with these vectors. Because of this, triatome vectors adapted to human environments, feeding on domestic animals and individuals. Leading to a transmission cycle. People can get infected in different ways, the most common being, blood-sucking insects knows as, triatomine bugs. These bugs get infected by biting an infected animal or person, they tend to live on crevices in walls and roofs of houses, commonly in houses with material of mud. They tend to come out at night and because they bite peoples face area, they are often called the “kissing bug”.
The most …show more content…
But, this stage can affect the heart by enlargement of muscle, leading to heart failure, and in the intestine by the enlargement of colon or esophagus, leading to difficulty in swelling and passing bowel motion. Complications like that can happen 10-25 years later, after first infection by the Triatomine bug. In this phase, there are few to zero parasites in the blood, so disease cannot be identified by a microscope. A few ways to detect infection is by checking antibodies in a individual, parasite in tissue biopsies, culture or PCR (generic fingerprint of parasite). In regards to treatment, managing complication can differ depending on the organ affected. Pacemakers or medication for heart rhythm is recommended. Medication, diet changes or intestinal surgery may
It is frequently found in people, dogs, cats, and wild animals in Central and South America, especially in farm lands where poverty prevails. Deforestation for agriculture, mining, and urbanisation purposes seems to be the biggest cause for people to be in contact with these vectors. Because of this, triatome vectors adapted to human environments, feeding on domestic animals and individuals. Leading to a transmission cycle. People can get infected in different ways, the most common being, blood-sucking insects knows as, triatomine bugs. These bugs get infected by biting an infected animal or person, they tend to live on crevices in walls and roofs of houses, commonly in houses with material of mud. They tend to come out at night and because they bite peoples face area, they are often called the “kissing bug”.
The most …show more content…
But, this stage can affect the heart by enlargement of muscle, leading to heart failure, and in the intestine by the enlargement of colon or esophagus, leading to difficulty in swelling and passing bowel motion. Complications like that can happen 10-25 years later, after first infection by the Triatomine bug. In this phase, there are few to zero parasites in the blood, so disease cannot be identified by a microscope. A few ways to detect infection is by checking antibodies in a individual, parasite in tissue biopsies, culture or PCR (generic fingerprint of parasite). In regards to treatment, managing complication can differ depending on the organ affected. Pacemakers or medication for heart rhythm is recommended. Medication, diet changes or intestinal surgery may