Causes And Symptoms Of Chagas Disease
What is Chagas disease?
Chagas disease or sleeping sickness is an illness caused by insects’ bite. Chagas disease is caused by a tropical parasite known as flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite is related to the African trypanosome. The disease spreads through blood transfusions, organ transplantation, and ingestion of contaminated food.
What are the causes, incidence and risk factors associated with Chagas disease?
Poverty is the main cause of the occurrence of this disease. People living in huts are exposed reduviid bugs, which live in the wall and are a transmitter and carrier of Chagas disease. The disease occurs exclusively in the Americas, particularly in poor and rural areas of South and Central America. In South America, approximately 20 million people are believed to be infected by this disease. Due to immigration, the disease has also affected approximately 0.5 million people in the United States.
Chagas disease generally occurs in two stages:
• Acute stage -This stage occurs soon after an initial infection. This phase generally lasts for the first few weeks or months of infection.
• Chronic stage – This stage develops over the period of several years.
What are the common symptoms of Chagas disease?
The symptoms of Chagas disease vary over the course of an infection. The acute phase is usually asymptotic or may have very mild symptoms.
Following are the common symptoms of the acute phase of chagas disease:
• Fever
• Malaise (general illness such as fatigue, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, etc.)
• Diarrhea
• Swelling of single eye
• Swollen red area at site of previous insect bite
• Enlargement of liver and spleen
• Swelling of the lymph nodes
After the acute phase is over, the disease may go into remission. No other symptoms may occur for several years. They finally develop into:
• Swallowing difficulties – the first symptom of digestive turbulence, which may lead to malnutrition
• Constipation and digestive problems
• Abdominal pain
• Arrhythmia (uneven heartbeat)
• Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
The chronic stage affects the nervous system, digestive system, and heart. Patients may develop congestive heart failure. This may also result in death of the patient.
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