"If the parasite isn't eliminated with treatment during this acute phase, people with Chagas can go on to develop digestive problems, as well as heart conditions that can prove fatal. While casual contact won't spread the disease from person to person, transmission is possible by way of blood transfusions, organ transplants, and between pregnant people and their babies. You can also get the disease without a kissing bug bite if you eat uncooked food contaminated with an infected insect's feces."
"Caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasites that lurk in the feces of blood-sucking insects known as kissing bugs, the disease can cause fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, achiness, loss of appetite and headache for a few weeks or months after infection."
"The new CDC report warns that kissing bugs are now prevalent enough in parts of the U.S. for the illness to be considered endemic, which means it has a constant presence in the country. In Los Angeles County, for example, experts estimate that 45,000 people have Chagas disease and more than 44,000 of them are unaware of that fact."
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in kissing bug feces, produces acute symptoms such as fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, achiness, loss of appetite and headache for weeks or months. If untreated during the acute phase, the infection can progress to digestive disorders and potentially fatal heart conditions. Casual contact does not spread the disease, but transmission can occur through blood transfusions, organ transplants, congenital transfer from pregnant people to babies, and ingestion of food contaminated with infected insect feces. In some U.S. regions the vector is common and many infected people remain unaware of their status.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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