Information On Chagas disease, Causes Of Chagas disease, Synonyms of Chagas disease, Symptoms Of Chagas disease, Treatment Of Chagas disease, Diagnosis Of Chagas disease

INFORMATION ON CHAGAS DISEASE

Chagas disease also called American trypanosomiasis is a human tropical parasitic disease which occurs in the Americas, particularly in South America.Chagas disease is usually spread by the feces of the reduviid bug, an insect that infests mud, adobe, or thatch houses. People get infected when they unknowingly rub bug feces into their eyes or mouth or into a bite wound. Infection can be also be transmitted by blood transfusions or organ transplantsChagas disease is found only in Latin America. It is named after Carlos Chagas, a Brazilian doctor who first described the disease in 1909.

SYNONYMS OF CHAGAS DISEASE

Synonyms and related keywords:
1. South American trypanosomiasis.
2. New World trypanosomiasis.
3. Protozoosis.
4. Trypanosoma cruzi.
5. Cardiac dysfunction.

CAUSES OF CHAGAS DISEASE

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagas disease is usually spread by the feces of the reduviid bug, an insect that infests mud, adobe, or thatch houses. People get infected when they unknowingly rub bug feces into their eyes or mouth or into a bite wound. Infection can be also be transmitted by blood transfusions or organ transplants. An infected woman can pass the infection to her baby during pregnancy, at delivery, or while breastfeeding.

SYMPTOMS OF CHAGAS DISEASE

Symptoms of Chagas Disease are:
1. Chagoma.
2. Fever - usually high fever.
3. High fever.
4. Anemia.
5. Facial swelling - one-sided.
6. Eyelid edema.
7. Regional lymphadenopathy.
8. Hepatosplenomegaly.
9. Meningoencephalic inflammation.
10. Lethargy.
11. Apathy.
12. Sleepiness.
13. Headaches.
14. Convulsions.

TREATMENT OF CHAGAS DISEASE

The acute phase should be treated. Benznidazole has been shown to be effective. Experimental treatment may include nifurtimox. Treating the chronic phase with antibiotics is not helpful. Instead, the symptoms of heart and intestinal disease should be treated. Two drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole, are capable of curing at least 50% of recent infections. These products are active in the acute and short-termchronic phase.