Health officials in the United States, particularly in Southern California, have warned of a new emerging parasitic infection transmitted by 'kissing bugs' called Chagas disease.
A new study published in the September edition of the peer-reviewed journal Emerging Infectious Diseases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms cases reported in eight states, classifying the disease as an "endemic". The CDC defines 'endemic' as the constant presence and/or the usual prevalence of a disease in a population within a geographic area.
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What Is Chagas Disease?
Chagas disease is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. It spreads mainly by kissing bugs in Latin America and other regions. The disease has an acute phase, often mild, and a chronic phase, which can develop years later and lead to severe heart and digestive problems.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 70 lakh people worldwide are estimated to be infected with T. cruzi, leading to more than 10,000 deaths every year.
The global health body adds that Chagas disease is found mainly in endemic areas of 21 continental Latin American countries, where transmission is largely related to the presence of the insect vector.
Currently, more than 10 crore people are considered at risk of infection.
How Does Chagas Disease Spread?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Chagas disease can spread in several ways, including:
- Triatomine bugs, also known as kissing bugs, become infected by biting and sucking blood from animals or people carrying the T. cruzi parasite.
- Contact with bug faeces: After feeding, these bugs pass the parasite in their faeces. If the faeces enter a person's body through a cut or near the eyes or mouth, it can cause infection.
- Accidental rubbing: Infection can occur if someone unknowingly scratches or rubs bug faeces into their bite wounds, eyes, or mouth.
Although rare, other modes of transmission include:
- Mother-to-baby (congenital),
- Contaminated blood products (transfusions)
- An organ transplanted from an infected donor
- Laboratory accident
- Contaminated food or drink
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Signs Of Chagas Disease
| Phase | Duration | Key Symptoms/Features | Severe Outcomes/Complications |
| Acute Phase | First 2 months after infection | For table:
- Fever - Headache - Enlarged lymph nodes - Pallor - Muscle pain - Difficulty breathing - Swelling - Abdominal or chest pain - Chagoma (skin lesion at the bite site) - Romaña’s sign (purplish swelling of one eyelid) |
Usually mild or absent symptoms, rarely life-threatening at this stage |
| Chronic Phase | Decades after infection | - Parasites hide in heart and digestive muscles. - Can remain silent for years - Cardiac disorders (in up to 1/3 of patients) - Digestive complications (in ~1 in 10 patients, e.g., enlarged oesophagus or colon) - Neurological or mixed disorders |
- Cardiac arrhythmias - Progressive heart failure - Sudden death - Damage to the nervous system and digestive tract |
How To Prevent Chagas Disease
To prevent Chagas disease, here are the measures you should take:
- Plaster walls and seal cracks and crevices in homes to prevent bugs from entering.
- Regularly spray insecticides to kill bugs in and around homes.
- Use insecticide-treated bed nets to protect yourself from bug bites while sleeping.
- Keep beds a few inches away from walls to avoid bugs hiding there.
- If you're in an area where Chagas is common, avoid sleeping in adobe, mud, or thatched houses.
Additionally, hygiene is crucial:
- Avoid contaminated food
- Practise food hygiene during food preparation and storage
Conclusion
Chagas disease, once thought to be limited to Latin America, is now emerging in the US, raising public health concerns. While many infections remain silent for years, the disease can lead to severe, even life-threatening, complications in the long run. Awareness of its signs, modes of transmission, and preventive measures is key to staying protected. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference in outcomes, highlighting the need for vigilance and timely medical attention.