Kissing bug disease – Chagas
The other name of the Kissing bug disease is Chagas, Parasites or Trypanosomiasis disease. The disease started acquiring more names as soon as it started spreading in different parts of the world. Believed to origin from America, it is also referred to as “American HIV Aids” by some Americans. So the kissing bug disease is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite. It may also be life-threatening in some cases. It is caused by the feces of triatomine, particularly caused by the parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi and that’s what transmits it to the humans or even animals. Sometimes it is also called “Assassin bug” disease.
Kissing bug disease
Kissing bug disease – Details
So as we look into the details and history of this disease, we see that Chagas disease was first discovered by a Brazilian doctor “Chagas” on whom which it is named. It was also found that the infected cells multiply fast in our body. When they burst, they release parasites into our blood and veins. The disease is more common in South America specially in the poverty spread areas. So if you find some symptoms of the disease in your body, you should be alarmed if one of the factors below matches your condition.
- Living around bugs and insects
- Living in close proximity to the jungle
- Living in Central or South America
- Living around a poverty spread area
Where we know it is important to spread information regarding the Symptoms of Kissing bug disease or the causes, we first believe it is important to know what the disease actually is and how dangerous can it be. The disease can often get into chronic phases so we now will discuss some phases of the Chagas Disease.
Phases of the Kissing Bug Disease
There are two phases related to this disease mainly called as,
- Acute phase
- Chronic phase
The acute phase of the disease is rarely noticed just because of the acute factors and symptoms involved in it. It is not really dangerous to health but can last a few weeks after infection. People with weaker immune systems such as children or probably the age of 60+ can be at risk.
The chronic phase of the disease can be highly dangerous and you might enter the stage if the parasite wasn’t destroyed in the acute stage. It can be life-threatening and this stage is found to be in one-third of total patients infected. So one must watch-out and avail proper treatment vigilantly if he/she ever enter the chronic stage to kissing bug disease.
We’ll also discuss a few words regarding the treatment of the Chagas disease although we’ll discuss it in details later in more articles. Two major drugs used in the treatment of the disease are benznidazole and nifurtimox. The dosage of the two drugs should be carefully watched or as the doctor prescribes because these include side-effects as well which may appear as head-aches or problems in sleeping. Currently, that’s all we have for the on Chagas so stay tuned for more updates on kissing bug disease.