It is transmitted by the triatomine bug (vector-borne), as well as orally (food-borne), through blood/blood products, mother-to-child (congenital) transmission, organ transplantation and laboratory accidents. Trypanosoma cruzi infection is curable if treatment is initiated soon after infection.
Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are the states with the most different species and most findings of kissing bugs. Scientists have found that about 50% of kissing bugs are infected with the Chagas parasite. Kissing bugs are a 'vector' because they can carry a parasite that can make people and animal sick.
Triatomine bugs are a type of reduviid bug that can carry Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease.
They are found all over America, but species have also been found in Asia, Africa and Australia. Since kissing bugs feed off the blood of vertebrates, they are found living in close proximity to them.
Kissing bugs can carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease, but this is not common in Canada or the United States. Itching from the bites can be so bad that some people will scratch enough to cause breaks in the skin that get infected easily. The bites can also cause a serious allergic reaction in some people.
If found inside the home, kissing bugs are often in: Bedrooms; under or near mattresses or night stands. Near pet beds. Areas of rodent infestation.
It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening.
Symptoms of Chagas disease in the chronic (or long-term) phase may include: Heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythm. Trouble eating.
The diagnosis of Chagas disease can be made by observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination.
Chronic infections are asymptomatic in two thirds of the human population. Chronic Chagas disease affects mostly the heart and the digestive tract. Arrhythmias and congestive heart failure are ominous signs of the disease. Megaoesophagus and megacolon cause dysphagia and constipation, respectively.
Chagas disease is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease mainly affects the nervous system, digestive system and heart.
Chagas disease is curable if treated soon after infection. Unfortunately, most infected people are unaware of their infection until it's too late, and they present with complications of chronic heart or bowel problems.
The parasite that causes Chagas disease is found only in the Americas, where an estimated 7 million people are infected. 1 In the United States, more than 300,000 people are living with the disease. 300,000 living with Chagas in the U.S. Chagas disease causes approximately 10,000 deaths per year globally.
University of Pennsylvania Health System: “Penn Study Shows Bed Bugs Can Transmit Parasite that Causes Chagas Disease.”
Early treatment for Chagas disease is the most successful. Recommended treatment may include: Antiparasitic medicine which you may need to take for up to 2 months.
Second stage (latent period)
During the second stage, people have no symptoms of Chagas disease and results of electrocardiography (ECG) and imaging tests of the heart and digestive system are normal. However, protozoa are present in their body and sometimes blood.
Chagas disease and sleeping sickness are both infectious diseases caused by the parasite Trypanosoma. In particular, Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, while sleeping disease is caused by Trypanosoma gambiense. These parasites live in animals and can be transmitted from person to person.
One popular, natural way to get rid of kissing bugs is to use a few drops of essential oils, such as citronella, which is a promising repellent according to one study. Mix with water into a spray bottle, and spray it liberally in areas where they congregate. While this won't kill them, it will repel them.
If you suspect you may have kissing bugs, check for clues like feces and eggs. Feces may be spread on walls and can be both white and dark, and usually look like stripes.
Kissing bugs sometimes have a parasite in their poop that causes Chagas disease. In most people, that causes mild or no symptoms. But in some, the infection can lead to serious, long-term heart problems or disease in the intestines.
There are three phases of the disease: acute, indeterminate and chronic. In acute infection, symptoms can occur immediately following infection and can last approximately 2 months.
Pyrethrin. Pyrethrin is an organic insecticide that you can use to kill kissing bugs. It has proven to be fatal because it targets their nervous system. As a result, they become paralyzed and eventually die.
It's best to NOT squish a bug, but sometimes it happens! After the bug is squished, do not touch the bug with your bare hands. The T. cruzi parasite may be in the feces of kissing bugs, and their bodies may have the parasite on them.