Patient education: Chagas disease (The Basics)

What is Chagas disease? — Chagas disease is an infection caused by a parasite (a type of germ). This parasite is carried by a certain kind of bug, called a "triatomine bug" (picture 1). These are sometimes called "reduviid bugs" or "kissing bugs."

Chagas disease is common in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is very rare to get the disease in the US or other parts of the world. Chagas disease is also called "American trypanosomiasis."

What are the symptoms of Chagas disease? — Chagas disease has 2 phases: the "acute phase" and the "chronic phase."

●Acute phase – The acute phase happens soon after a person is infected, and lasts for up to a few months. During this time, the infected person might not have any symptoms or might just feel tired or unwell. Some people get swelling where the infection entered the body through the skin. In very rare cases, acute Chagas disease leads to inflammation in the heart or brain. This can be serious.

●Chronic phase – The chronic phase begins once there are no (or very few) parasites left in the person's system. Most people have no symptoms during this time. But some people (2 or 3 out of every 10) will eventually have problems, such as:

•Heart problems – These can include an irregular heartbeat, heart failure (when the heart does not pump as well as it should), blood clots, and chest pain. Heart problems can also cause dizziness or fainting. In some cases, the heart can stop beating suddenly.

•Digestive problems – The muscles in the digestive tract can stop working normally. The esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach) and the colon (large intestine) can bulge out and get wider than usual. This can cause problems with eating and digesting food.

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you live in an area where Chagas disease is common, and you think that you might have it, call your doctor or nurse.

How does Chagas disease spread? — The most common way to get infected is getting bitten by a bug that has the parasite that causes Chagas disease. The bugs often live in houses made of mud or clay, where there are cracks in the floors, walls, or ceilings.

Chagas disease can also be spread through:

●A mother passing it on to her baby (when the baby is born)

●Receiving blood or organs from someone who was infected

●Eating or drinking something with the parasite in it

Should I worry about Chagas disease if I am traveling? — No. Most people who get Chagas disease have spent years living around the bugs that carry the infection. You are very unlikely to get it while visiting Mexico, Central America, or South America.

Is there a test for Chagas disease? — Yes. There is a blood test that can check for the parasite that causes Chagas disease. If it has been several months since the person was infected, they are probably in the "chronic phase." In this case, there are different blood tests that can tell if a person has the disease.

If blood tests show that you have Chagas disease, your doctor or nurse will probably do other tests, too. These include imaging tests to check for problems with your heart or digestive system.

How is Chagas disease treated? — There are medicines available to treat Chagas disease. These medicines kill the parasite that causes the infection. They are available in most countries where Chagas disease is common. In the US, they are only available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC").

These medicines are usually given to:

●Anyone with Chagas disease in the acute phase

●Children (under 18 years old) and some adults with Chagas disease in the chronic phase

●Babies who were infected with Chagas disease at birth

●People with Chagas disease who also have other problems with their immune systems (for example, HIV infection)

Medicines that kill parasites do not fix the heart or digestive problems caused by Chagas disease. Once these problems have happened, they are permanent. But there are treatments that can help with the symptoms. For example:

●Heart problems – Treatments might include medicines to treat heart failure or an abnormal heartbeat, or to prevent blood clots. Some people might need a pacemaker (a device that helps the heart beat normally).

●Digestive problems – Treatments might include medicines, changes in diet, or surgery.

Can Chagas disease be prevented? — Yes. There are things that you can do to help prevent Chagas disease. If you live in a place where the disease is common, you can:

●Avoid sleeping in buildings made of mud or clay, where infected bugs often live. If you can't avoid it, you can protect your bed or sleeping area with netting that has been treated with bug spray.

●Have your home sprayed with chemicals to kill bugs.

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