Do I Have Chagas Disease?

Did you travel to a rural area of Latin America (Mexico, Central America, and South Americain) in the past year?

Have you lived in a country where Chagas disease is common?

Do you have swelling at the site of the bite (called a chagoma)?

Do you have fever?

Do you have fatigue?

Do you have a rash?

Do you have body aches?

Do you have eyelid swelling?

Do you have a headache?

Do you have loss of appetite?

Do you have nausea, diarrhea or vomiting?

Do you have swollen glands?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have Chagas disease. Chagas disease is an infectious disease caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted to animals and humans by insects called triatomine bugs found only in America. For that reason, Chagas disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis. About 8 million people in Mexico and Central and South America have Chagas disease. In many cases, people do not even know that they are infected with the T. cruzi parasite because the symptoms of Chagas disease are similar to many other diseases. If left untreated, Chagas disease can cause serious complications.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have Chagas disease. Chagas disease is an inflammatory contagious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans by the insect known as a triatomine bug. These bugs spread the parasite through their feces. They are active at night and bite people while they sleep. The triatomine bugs tend to bite people’s faces, so they are also known as “kissing bugs”. Anyone can get Chagas disease. Diagnosis is based on blood tests. During the acute phase of the infection, your doctor may see parasites circulating in the blood under a microscope.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have Chagas disease. Chagas disease is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The main route of transmission is through the insect called triatomine bug, Chagas disease can be also transmitted from an infected mother to a child, through contaminated blood products (transfusions) or an organ transplanted from an infected donor. Chagas disease can be acute and chronic. The acute phase can last for weeks or months, and a person may have no symptoms or mild ones. Treatment includes antiparasitic drugs. The symptoms of the chronic phase may occur 10 years after the initial infection.