Health A-Z

What is Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis)?

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a tropical parasitic infection transmitted by crawling, blood-sucking insects (kissing bugs). The kissing bug is almost exclusive to continental Latin America.

The infection results from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). In most cases, the disease passes to humans who have been exposed (bitten) by an infected triatomine bug (kissing bug).

Parents may spread Chagas disease to their offspring during pregnancy or delivery. Other exceedingly rare forms of transmission include:

• Infected blood transfusions.
• Sharing needles.
• Consumption of food or beverages contaminated by the insect or its urine or feces that contain the parasite T. cruzi.
• Very rarely, organ transplants or laboratory accidents.

Chagas disease can cause both sudden (acute) and long-term (chronic) symptoms. People can be infected for a long time without showing symptoms. Without treatment, serious complications, including heart and intestinal tract problems, are possible.

Chagas disease is curable if treated soon after infection. Unfortunately, most infected people are unaware of their infection until it’s too late, and they present with complications of chronic heart or bowel problems.

What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?

Chagas disease occurs in two distinct phases:

The acute (sudden) phase

Symptoms are generally mild or go unnoticed, including:

• Swelling at the site of the bug bite/ contact with the bug feces.
• Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, body aches, fatigue and headache.
• Muscle pain.
• Abdominal pain.
• Enlarged spleen or liver.
• Swollen glands.

The phase may last a few days or a few weeks.

The chronic (long-term) phase

Symptoms may start years or even decades after the initial infection. They include:

• Chest pain.
• Heart palpitations.
• Shortness of breath.
• Difficulty eating.
• Difficulty passing stool.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.
• Fatigue.
• Sudden death.

How is Chagas disease treated?

Treatment for Chagas disease includes antiparasitic medications, such as benznidazole. In addition, if you have cardiac or intestinal complications from Chagas disease, you may need further treatment.

What complications are associated with Chagas disease?

Chronic Chagas disease may cause serious complications that affect the heart and gastrointestinal tract. These complications may be life-threatening if left untreated. Heart complications include:

• Arrhythmia (unusual heart rate or rhythm).
• Cardiac arrest (sudden death).
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart).
• Heart failure.

Intestinal tract complications may include:

• Megaesophagus (enlarged esophagus).
• Megacolon (enlarged colon).

In rare cases, young children or immunosuppressed people infected with Chagas disease develop life-threatening complications, including:

• Myocarditis (severe inflammation and infection of the heart muscle).
• Meningoencephalitis (severe inflammation and infection of the brain).

How is American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider diagnoses Chagas disease with a simple blood test. The test looks for the presence of antibodies against the parasite.

After a positive diagnosis and complete history, your provider may recommend cardiac testing to rule out heart or gastrointestinal complications. These tests may include:

• Echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create a detailed picture of your heart.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG), which uses electrodes attached to your skin to record your heart’s electrical activity.
• X-ray or CT scan of the abdomen or chest to check for an enlarged colon or esophagus.