Chagas Disease

Overview

How can I get sick?  

• Triatomine bugs are the insect that can spread the disease. The blood sucking insects can pass the infection* to humans through a bite. Poop from the insects can also enter a human’s body through an open cut or through the nose and mouth.  

Symptoms in humans:  

There are two phases known as the acute* and chronic* phase.  

Acute Phase* (the first weeks to months of infection) 

Some people may have no symptoms while others may have mild symptoms.  

• Fever (when your body gets a little hotter than normal) 
• Feeling very tired 
• Body pain 
• Headache 
• Rash 
• Not feeling hungry 
• Diarrhea (runny poop) 
• Throwing up 
• Swelling eyelids 

Chronic Phase* (can last a very long time or your entire life) 

• Heart complications  
• Enlarged heart 
• Heart failure 
• Cardiac arrest 
• Stomach complications  
• Enlarged esophagus or colon 

What can I do to stay healthy? 

• Use insect repellent* 

• Use bed nets 

• Wear protective clothing that covers the skin. 
• Check your surroundings and sleeping area if you’re traveling to an area with Triatomine bugs.  

*Definitions: 

• Acute: Your symptoms may come on quickly and may require short-term care. You will get better overtime once treated by your doctor.
• Chronic: Illness that a person has for a long time or illness that goes away for some time and keeps coming back.
• Infection: When germs enter your body and begin to increase.
• Insect Repellent: Product applied to skin, clothing or surfaces to keep insects away.
• Parasite: A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism, called a host. Parasites can cause diseases in humans or animals.