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Chagas disease in the Americas
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rev. January 2015
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Description:Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is spread by infected insects called triatomine bugs and can be life threatening during both the early and late stages of infection. Those with the acute form of the disease, which lasts 4–8 weeks, typically either have no symptoms or experience mild illness. Some patients with acute disease develop swelling at the site of infection, known as Romaña’s sign. Chagas disease then progresses to the chronic phase, which can last for years to decades. Infected persons usually don’t have overt symptoms nor know they are infected. Twenty to 30 percent of these persons eventually develop chronic disease, which can cause death. Signs and symptoms can include cardiac (such as heart failure) and/or gastrointestinal problems (such as dilated esophagus or colon), in addition to an increased risk of stroke. Historically, transmission has been concentrated in rural areas of Latin America where poor housing conditions promoted contact with infected bugs. However, in the last several decades, successful control programs targeting the bugs have substantially decreased transmission rates in rural areas, and large-scale migration has brought infected persons to cities both within and outside Latin America.
CS242221-A
chagasdiseaseintheamericas2015.pdf
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